PHIL41730: Philosophy of the Social Sciences

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• to engage students with philosophical issues arising in the social sciences
• to introduce central philosophical theories and concepts relevant to these issues
• to introduce key arguments for and against these theories

• Philosophical issues concerning the nature of social scientific theory and its applications. Topics will vary depending on staff expertise. A list of indicative topics is as follows:
• Measurement
• Causation and causal explanation
• Laws in social science
• Social mechanisms
• Facts and values in social science
• The role of social science in a democratic society
• Evidence-based social policy
• Complex systems
• Social preferences and game theory
• In consultation with the Module Leader, students will choose a topic for their assessed essay. The essay's topic should normally come from one of the subject areas covered in the seminars. Topic proposals falling outside these areas will have to be approved by the Course Director.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• At the end of the module students should have a familiarity with key philosophical theories and concepts concerning social science.

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of the module students should be able to:
• demonstrate skills in understanding and interpreting philosophical theories and arguments concerning social science and in contemporary;
• analyse and evaluate central arguments for and against theories;
• write a critical and well-informed essay on a selected topic in the philosophy of social science.

Key Skills:

• Students will be able to:
• Identify and locate research materials.
• Write in a clear, rigorous, argumentative style.
• Manage their time effectively.
• Pursue interdisciplinary research.
• Use their own initiative to choose a research topic.
• Exercise self-discipline, responsibility and autonomy in pursuing a research project.
• Engage in disciplined reflection upon the nature of their experiences.

• This module will be taught in 10 two-hour group seminars, and with individual tutorial sessions on the topic of the assessed essay.
• Each of the two-hour seminars will be led by a lecturer. The seminars include a short introduction to the topic by the lecturer; students' short presentations of key literature; and joint critical discussion of pre-read research publications (partly in group work).
• The individual tutorials (entitlement of up to 2 hours with the chosen supervisor) will support the student's work towards the assessed essay. They include discussion of the chosen research/ essay topic; guidance on relevant research methods and literature; development of a research plan and timetable; and feedback on essay drafts. Please note that tutorials will not be centrally timetabled and should be organised directly between students and tutors as schedules permit.
• These teaching and learning methods will support students in achieving Subject-Specific Skills 1-3 above. The Subject-Specific Skills will be formally assessed by the essay.
• Feedback on formative assignment will assist students in preparing the summative assignment.

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