Pluralism and Rationality in the Social Sciences

In: Philosophy of the social sciences: an international journal = Philosophie des sciences sociales, Band 21, Heft 4, S. 427-443

Abstract

This article takes it for granted that science is intrinsically social and that competition is part and parcel of science. Four kinds of competition are distinguished and related to four kinds of rationalities: technological, normal scientific, political, and philosophical. It is argued that science as a whole is rational when there is interaction between the different (sub-) rationalities. Science needs not only different disciplines, but a methodological division of labor.