Philosophy of Social Science, Fourth Edition

Alexander Rosenberg

2012

Westview Press

In this fourth edition of his book, Duke philosophy professor Rosenberg provides a tightly argued yet accessible introduction to the philosophical foundations of the human sciences, including economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, psychology, history, and the disciplines emerging at the intersections of these subjects with biology. Philosophy is unavoidable for social scientists because the choices they make in answering questions in their disciplines force them to take sides on philosophical matters. Conversely, the social and behavior sciences must inform philosophers’ understanding of human action, norms, and social institutions. The fourth edition retains an illuminating interpretation of the enduring relations between the social sciences and philosophy, and it has now been thoroughly revised to better fit with courses, including fifteen chapters with more effective transitions and helpful summaries.