Anthropological basis, social knowledge

Question 1

Formulate a critique of the thesis that the specific difference between humans and animals is their ability to reason.

Answer 1

The main point of criticism of philosophical anthropology:
Emphasis on the mind leads to neglect of the natural endowment of the human being as the basis of human behavior.
e.g. biological changes in the larynx pharynx are necessary and central for the ability to speak
=> prerequisite for the use of complex symbols for communication

Question 2

What is meant by “openness to the world of man”?
(from Scheler´s philosophical anthropology)

Answer 2

Openness to the world means four things:
1. liberation of the human being from organic, libidinal constraints
2. not being bound to a specific habitat (‘environmentally free’)
3. no behavioral patterns dictated by nature
4. necessity to create certainty of expectations in dealing with others
Consequence: the compulsion to create a cultural (social) world and the compulsion to acquire this world through Socialization

Question 3

Discuss two differences between everyday theories and scientific theories using examples.

Answer 3

Scientific theories:
- are based on experience, including experiments (repeated and checked–>high reproducibility of results)–> high demands on methodological control
Everyday theories
- are often based on experience
- are not tested for their correctness. –> no demands for methodological control of knowledge acquisition

Verifiable facts are objective, as they should be in science. Everyday theories, however, are subjective assessments of the respective experiences. e.g.

Question 4

How do social science theories differ from natural science theories?

Question 5

What is the problem with the statement that theories can be empirically disproved?

Question 6

What are everyday knowledge and everyday theory?

Answer 6

The everyday theory consists of generalizing statements about an object’s area that people form to explain all kinds of things in everyday life and to solve everyday problems.
Everyday knowledge /theory is developed from experiences, which can be highly personal or shared by many.

Question 7

What are scientific knowledge and scientific theory?

Question 8

What is a theory?

Answer 8

● Theories are linguistic (symbolic) constructions. There are no facts in them (only symbolic constructions of facts).
● We constantly produce explanations for all kinds of things in everyday life, usually based on theories.