Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines
In this paper, I combine an exposition of the historical development of sociology and philosophy of science from the era of grand theories onwards, with an explication as to why the grand theories have failed. First, I trace some parallels in the history of each of the disciplines. After presenting...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | ces |
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Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Philosophy
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Teorie vědy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://teorievedy.flu.cas.cz/index.php/tv/article/view/470 |
| _version_ | 1797707018491920384 |
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| author | Petr Jedlička |
| author_facet | Petr Jedlička |
| author_sort | Petr Jedlička |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, I combine an exposition of the historical development of sociology and philosophy of science from the era of grand theories onwards, with an explication as to why the grand theories have failed. First, I trace some parallels in the history of each of the disciplines. After presenting their chronological development, I scrutinize the metatheoretical findings about the disciplines and examine the main ontological and epistemic reasons why attempts at these general theories or frameworks have not succeeded. Among them are the lack of a universal methodology and of a theoretical core, together with the impossibility of achieving a common objective view. On this basis I conclude that general theories or frameworks are not achievable in principle. As it turns out, however, some contemporary social theorists and philosophers still harbor hopes that they can be successfully formulated, or at the least do not rule out such possibility. Thus, in closing, I argue that the critical points can also be applied to these latest attempts, as the call for grand theories or frameworks has never ceased and returns regularly with each new generation of social theorists and philosophers of science. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:59:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4a7cb87b6e44235b65b4db0710d717e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1210-0250 1804-6347 |
| language | ces |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:59:57Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Philosophy |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Teorie vědy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4a7cb87b6e44235b65b4db0710d717e2023-09-03T04:15:47ZcesCzech Academy of Sciences, Institute of PhilosophyTeorie vědy1210-02501804-63472020-12-0142217519910.46938/tv.2020.470378Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two DisciplinesPetr Jedlička0Fakulta filozofická ZČU, Sedláčkova 19, 306 14 PlzeňIn this paper, I combine an exposition of the historical development of sociology and philosophy of science from the era of grand theories onwards, with an explication as to why the grand theories have failed. First, I trace some parallels in the history of each of the disciplines. After presenting their chronological development, I scrutinize the metatheoretical findings about the disciplines and examine the main ontological and epistemic reasons why attempts at these general theories or frameworks have not succeeded. Among them are the lack of a universal methodology and of a theoretical core, together with the impossibility of achieving a common objective view. On this basis I conclude that general theories or frameworks are not achievable in principle. As it turns out, however, some contemporary social theorists and philosophers still harbor hopes that they can be successfully formulated, or at the least do not rule out such possibility. Thus, in closing, I argue that the critical points can also be applied to these latest attempts, as the call for grand theories or frameworks has never ceased and returns regularly with each new generation of social theorists and philosophers of science.http://teorievedy.flu.cas.cz/index.php/tv/article/view/470grand theorymetatheory in sociologymetaphilosophy of sciencestructural functionalismlogical empiricismrelational and analytical sociology |
| spellingShingle | Petr Jedlička Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines Teorie vědy grand theory metatheory in sociology metaphilosophy of science structural functionalism logical empiricism relational and analytical sociology |
| title | Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines |
| title_full | Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines |
| title_fullStr | Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines |
| title_short | Against Grand Theories: A (Cautionary) Tale of Two Disciplines |
| title_sort | against grand theories a cautionary tale of two disciplines |
| topic | grand theory metatheory in sociology metaphilosophy of science structural functionalism logical empiricism relational and analytical sociology |
| url | http://teorievedy.flu.cas.cz/index.php/tv/article/view/470 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petrjedlicka againstgrandtheoriesacautionarytaleoftwodisciplines |