What, If Anything, is the Philosophy of Political Science?. Issue 3 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pozzoni, Gianluca
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of the social sciences. Volume 51:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 289
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: political science -- history of political science -- philosophy of political science -- interdisciplinarity; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Méthodologie -- Périodiques; 300.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0048393120976829
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-3931

Abstract

Compared to other philosophies of special sciences, the scope, object, and definition of the philosophy of political science remain vague. This article traces this vagueness to the changing subject matter of political science throughout its history, but argues that all social sciences are subject to radical changes in what count as their defining characteristics. Accordingly, the only legitimate definition of "philosophy of political science" is "the philosophical study of whatever happens to conventionally fall within the scope of political science at a given moment." Moving from this assumption, this article makes the case for a unified philosophy of social science.