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FSSP 701: Philosophy of the Social Sciences

Credits: 
3

The course aims at exposing doctoral students to the epistemological underpinnings of social science research. It focuses on the differences and similarities between the social and natural sciences, casual relationships, social laws and the ontological significance of structure and agency. The course also attempts to elucidate the nature of scientific enquiry such as observational procedures, patterns of argument, metaphysical presuppositions, and evaluate the grounds of their validity. Students will also be exposed to contemporary social science explanatory frameworks such as realism, post-modernism and post-structuralism. The course should enable students to design and undertake independent projects with a critical focus on the epistemological assumptions underlying their research with a consideration of contemporary evolving methodology.