Lecture 7: reductionisme, RCT and fuctionalism

Question 1

holism

Answer 1

• there exist ‘wholes’ such as social institutions communites
• explanation in social science refer to individual actions and social phenomena
• social science theories are logically independent of lower level theories

Question 2

functionalism

Answer 2

indicates the purpose that is being server (an explanation is in terms of a goal)

Question 3

Goldstone’s solution for the free-rider problem

Answer 3

create two levels

1st individuals make choices on the basis of solidarity to form groups
2nd groups make rational choices to participate or not participate in a revolution

• free riders problem: free-riders are always incentivized not to cooperate because cooperation involves high-risk

Question 4

the problem of the remainder (reductionism)

Answer 4

• individuals play different roles, so what, explains these roles?
• we need to account for internal structure
• every attempt to explain these structures appeals to more structures
• what properties belong to an individual and can these be understood independently of their social roles?

Question 5

the problem of multiple realization (reductionism)

Answer 5

• same phenomenon can be realized in different ways
• different properties and conditions give rise to common event or idea
• it is only at the social (macro) level that some properties become visible
• what is the relationships between parts and wholes of social phenomena?