This paper challenges the notion that the social sciences require a fundamentally different methodology from the natural sciences due to the interactivity of human kinds. By examining the concept of classificatory looping and its impact on human kinds, the author argues that understanding the causal pathways and utilizing behavioral science can offer reliable generalizations about human kinds. The paper presents examples such as the Buraku of Japan and African Americans to demonstrate how behavioral science can be employed to predict changes in properties of social groups. It posits that the social sciences can operate in a manner similar to the natural sciences by examining generic human tendencies that hold broadly across diverse social contexts. This exploration ultimately supports the unity thesis, emphasizing that social sciences can indeed gain a scientific understanding of human kinds comparable to the knowledge offered by natural sciences. / Master of Arts / This paper explores the idea that social sciences, which study human behavior and societies, can use methods similar to those in natural sciences, which study the natural world. The challenge lies in the fact that human behavior can change based on how people are classified, making it difficult to establish reliable patterns. The author argues that by understanding the reasons behind these changes and applying insights from behavioral science, we can still make valid generalizations about human behavior. Real-life examples, such as the Buraku people of Japan and African Americans, are used to demonstrate how behavioral science can help predict changes in social groups. By focusing on common human tendencies that apply across different social contexts, the paper supports the idea that social sciences can gain valuable insights into human behavior, much like the natural sciences do.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/114921 |
| Date | 04 May 2023 |
| Creators | Ali, Mohamed |
| Contributors | Philosophy, Parker, Wendy, Hoek, Daniel, Hersch, Gil |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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