Philosophy of Social Science

Philosophy of Social Science, 5th Edition, is a textbook that examines the enduring relations between philosophy and the social sciences. It explores how philosophical questions inform the understanding of human action, norms, and social institutions.

The volume addresses the foundational methodological divide between naturalism and interpretation. It investigates explanations of human action, intentionality, and the mind/body problem, while assessing theoretical approaches such as behaviorism and rational choice theory.

The 2016 fifth edition adds expanded discussion of philosophical anthropology alongside modern and postmodern critical theory, reflecting on developments in social research across the prior two decades.