Fryer, Philip D. (1980) Marx, Weber and the methodology of social science. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis is primarily concerned with the relationship
between realism in philosophy and in social science. I attempt
to expound and defend two principal arguments; first, that a realist
approach in philosophy is a precondition of understanding
science as a rational activity; secondly, that only a realist
approach to the understanding of social phenomena seems to offer
hope for developing an account of social inquiry based on scientific
principles. However, these two arguments are developed by way
of a critical analysis of the realist view in relationship to
some of its major rivals. Consequently, as well as my realist
exposition of Marx's methodology of science outlined in chapters
five and six, where I argue that only a dialectico-causal interpretation
of historical materialism seems to meet the requirements
of an historical science, there is a chapter on Weber's
methodology (hence the title of the thesis) and a section on
other approaches to social science stating my case against the
attempt to found social inquiry on alternative cognitive foundations.
In addition, the argument against non-realist views of
social science is extended to the critique of Marxism itself
especially in the context of the theories of Colletti and
Althusser contained in chapter 4.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Realism, Marx, Karl, 1818-1883, Weber, Max, 1864-1920, Science -- Methodology, Social sciences -- Methodology
Official Date:	September 1980
Dates:	Date Event September 1980 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Sociology
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Enfield, Roy
Extent:	vii, 251 leaves
Language:	eng

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