Toward Pragmatist Methodological Relationalism: From Philosophizing Sociology to Sociologizing Philosophy
: Kivinen O, Piiroinen T
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
: 2006
Philosophy of the Social Sciences
PHILOSOPHY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
: PHILOS SOC SCI
: 36
: 3
: 303
: 329
: 27
: 0048-3931
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0048393106289794
In this article, relationalist approaches to social sciences are analyzed in terms of a conceptual distinction between "philosophizing sociology" and "sociologizing philosophy." These mark two different attitudes toward philosophical metaphysics and ontological commitments. The authors' own pragmatist methodological relationalism of Deweyan origin is compared with ontologically committed realist approaches, as well as with Bourdieuan methodological relationalism. It is argued that pragmatist philosophy of social sciences is an appropriate tool for assisting social scientists in their methodological work, especially as regards problem-driven case studies.