Is Social Ontology Prior to Social Scientific Methodology?. Issue 3 (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lauer, Richard
• Other Names: Feest Uljana guest-editor.; Bouvier Alban guest-editor.; Henderson David guest-editor.; Kaldis Byron guest-editor.; Montuschi Eleonora guest-editor.; Risjord Mark guest-editor.; Roth Paul guest-editor.; Zahle Julie guest-editor.; Bonilla Jesus Zamora guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of the social sciences. Volume 49:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 189
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Social ontology -- social scientific methodology -- metaontology; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Méthodologie -- Périodiques; 300.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0048393119840328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-3931

Abstract

In this article, I examine "Ontology Matters!" (OM!) arguments. OM! arguments conclude that ontology can contribute to empirical success in social science. First, I capture the common form between different OM! arguments. Second, I describe quantifier variance as discussed in metaontology. Third, I apply quantifier variance to the common form of OM! arguments. I then present two ways in which ontology is prior to social science methodology, one realist and one pragmatic. I argue that a pragmatic interpretation of ontology's priority gives proponents of realist OM! arguments a special burden that they must meet to render their argument successful.