Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations of Social and Political Sciences

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

To inform students about the specificity of social and political sciences
To pass knowledge about the most influential schools and currents in social and political sciences
To inspire students with contemporary discussions on the theoretical and philosophical foundations of social and political sciences
To increase students' awareness of the pluralism in theoretical and philosophical foundations of contemporary social and political sciences

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Students have basic knowledge of the theory of scientific research and the philosophy of science.

Syllabus

1. Specificity of social and political sciences.
2. Variety of theoretical and philosophical foundations of social and political sciences. Crucial debates in the theoretical and philosophical foundations of social and political sciences.
3. Characteristics of naturalism, antipositivism, functionalism, behaviourism, institutionalism and neoinstitultionalisms.
4. Characteristics of interpretationism, constructivism, postmodernism. Values and language in social and political sciences.
5. Contemporary critique of philosophical and theoretical foundations of social and political sciences.

Reading list

Obligatory

1. Kellstedt P.M., Whitten G.D., The Fundamentals of Political Science Research, Cambridge University Press, 2009.
2. Kołakowski L., The Alienation of Reason: A History of Positivist Thought, Anchor Books, 1968.
3. P. Graham, J. Hoffman, Introduction to Political Theory, Routledge 2022.
4. G. Stoker, D. Marsh, Theory and Methods in Political Science, Palgrave Macmillian 2008.

Optional

1. Feichtinger J., Fillafer F.L., Surman J., The Worlds of Positivism: A Global Intellectual History, 1770–1930, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
2. Kincaid H., Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences: Analyzing Controversies in Social Research, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
3. Kincaid H., Dupre J., Wylie A., Value-Free Science? Ideals and Illusions?, Oxford University Press, 2007.
4. Stockman N., Antipositivist Theories of the Social Sciences, Springer-Science + Media Bussiness, B.V., 2013.
5. Voegelin E., The Foundations of Modern Political Science, University of Missouri Press, 1999.