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Full-Text Articles in History
Functional Explanation And Metaphysical Individualism, Justin Schwartz
Functional Explanation And Metaphysical Individualism, Justin Schwartz
Justin Schwartz
A number of (present or former) analytical Marxists, such as Jon Elster, have argued that functional explanation has almost no place in the social sciences. (Although the discussion is framed in terms of a debate among analytical Marxists, the point is quite general, and Marxism is used for illustrative purposes.) Functional explanation accounts for what is to be explained by reference to its function; thus, sighted organism have eyes because eyes enable them to see. Elster and other critics of functional explanation argue that this pattern of explanation is inconsistent with "methodological individualism," the idea, as they understand it, that …
Industrial Restructuring And Women's Homework In Appalachia: Lessons From West Virginia, Ann M. Oberhauser
Industrial Restructuring And Women's Homework In Appalachia: Lessons From West Virginia, Ann M. Oberhauser
Ann Oberhauser