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ohiou1212757204.pdf (320.31 KB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Theory, Method, and Democracy in the Social Sciences
Author Info
Arnold, Robert V.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1212757204
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2008, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Political Science (Arts and Sciences).
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of difference in methods and concepts in the social sciences. The first chapter presents a summarization and defense of two variants of pluralism, methodological and conceptual, in political science. These pluralisms suggest that there is value in engaging with ostensible incommensurabilities across subfields. The second and third chapters extend the analysis to the rest of the social sciences and show how two individuals, Amartya Sen and Avner Greif, may be seen as embodying some of the virtues of the two pluralisms. In the final chapter, the discussion of social scientific practice is tied to a theory of deliberative democracy; this results in a new vision of methodological discussions as a site of democratic deliberation and a new way of understanding democracy as a process of inquiry into one another's differences.
Committee
Julie A. White (Advisor)
James Mosher (Committee Member)
Takaaki Suzuki (Committee Member)
Pages
98 p.
Subject Headings
Political Science
;
Soil Sciences
Keywords
methodological pluralism
;
conceptual pluralism
;
incommensurability
;
deliberative democracy
;
institutionalism
;
freedom
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Citations
Arnold, R. V. (2008).
Theory, Method, and Democracy in the Social Sciences
[Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1212757204
APA Style (7th edition)
Arnold, Robert.
Theory, Method, and Democracy in the Social Sciences.
2008. Ohio University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1212757204.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Arnold, Robert. "Theory, Method, and Democracy in the Social Sciences." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1212757204
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
ohiou1212757204
Download Count:
632
Copyright Info
© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.