Predictive Success and Non-Individualist Models in Social Science. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lauer, Richard
• Other Names: Henderson David guest-editor.; Risjord Mark guest-editor.; Roth Paul guest-editor.; Turner Stephen guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of the social sciences. Volume 47:Number 2(2017:May)
• Page Start: 145
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: methodological individualism -- ontological individualism -- prediction -- resource-based theories of the firm; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Méthodologie -- Périodiques; 300.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0048393116672834
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-3931

Abstract

The predictive inadequacy of the social sciences is well documented, and philosophers have sought to diagnose it. This paper examines Brian Epstein's recent diagnosis. He argues that the social sciences treat the social world as entirely composed of individual people. Instead, social scientists should recognize that material, non-individualistic entities determine the social world, as well. First, I argue that Epstein's argument both begs the question against his opponents and is not sufficiently charitable. Second, I present doubts that his proposal will improve predictive success for the social sciences, which I support with Edith Penrose's resource-based theory of the firm.