Predictive Success and Non-Individualist Models in Social Science

Philosophy of the Social Sciences 47 (2):145-161 (2017)
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Abstract

The predictive inadequacy of the social sciences is well documented, and philosophers have sought to diagnose it. This paper examines Brian Epstein’s recent diagnosis. He argues that the social sciences treat the social world as entirely composed of individual people. Instead, social scientists should recognize that material, non-individualistic entities determine the social world, as well. First, I argue that Epstein’s argument both begs the question against his opponents and is not sufficiently charitable. Second, I present doubts that his proposal will improve predictive success for the social sciences, which I support with Edith Penrose’s resource-based theory of the firm.

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Richard Lauer
St. Lawrence University

Citations of this work

Optimism for Naturalized Social Metaphysics: A Reply to Hawley.Daniel Saunders - 2019 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences 50 (2):138-160.
Social Ontology and Model-Building: A Response to Epstein.Nadia Ruiz - 2021 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences 51 (2):176-192.
Predicting and explaining with machine learning models: Social science as a touchstone.Oliver Buchholz & Thomas Grote - 2023 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 102 (C):60-69.
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