This module examines the interplay between values and social sciences. We will address questions such as: Are the social sciences inevitably more value-laden than the social sciences? Should citizens decide what scientists research? Are there moral or political reasons for social scientists to sometimes refrain from researching particular topics, or from communicating their results? How should science guide policy? What can and should moral philosophy and political philosophy learn from the social sciences? What is the right relation between political philosophy and political science?
The course has two overall aims: first, to encourage critical reflection on the methodology of the social sciences and, second, to explore the relationship between normative philosophy and the social sciences.
The course is taught through weekly lectures and seminar. Each week we will meet for a 50-minute lecture and a 50-minute seminar in smaller groups. The lecture will provide an overview of that week’s topic and the literature that surrounds it. The seminars are entirely dedicated to student-led discussion of the weekly topic.
While there are no formal prerequisites for this module, it does build on introductory political theory knowledge, so you will benefit from having completed some specific modules, as detailed in the Restrictions box.
By the end of the module, you should have attained:
• a clear grasp of some key debates in the philosophy of social science in the context of political science and economics in particular;
• an understanding of some of the issues in the relationship between fact and values, as well as democracy and scientific expertise;
• the ability to analyse these debates critically;
• skills in analysing and constructing arguments, in expressing themselves orally and in writing, and in participating in group discussions.
Ahead of the course, you might find the following introductory books helpful. They can all be found in the UCL Library:
• Cartwright, N. & E. Montuschi (2014). Philosophy of Social Science, Oxford University Press.
• Elster, J. (1989). Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences, Cambridge University Press.
• Rosenberg, A. (2015). Philosophy of Social Science (5th edition), Westview Press.