Explanation and understanding revisited

Bohman and the new philosophy of social science

David Ingram

pp. 413-428

in: Human Studies 20 (4), 1997.

Abstract

James Bohman has succeeded in reinvigorating the old debate over explanation and understanding by situating it within contemporary discussions about sociological indeterminacy and complexity. I argue that Bohman's preference for a paradigm based on Habermas's theory of communicative action is justifiable given the explanatory deficiencies of ethnomethodological, rational choice, rule-based, and functionalist methodologies. Yet I do not share his belief that the paradigm is preferable to less formalized models of interpretation.

Cited authors

Bohman James