Theory of the social sciences

Science of the orientation, which shows the bonds between the disciplines. Within the framework of this science, the interdisciplinary discussions, doctrines and research can be structured. The following interrogations, methods and results are in the foreground 2005, extracted quoted with authorization author:

Put questions

is it possible to structure the Interdisciplinarité in Social sciences?
Which knowledge constitutes the base for which field of research?

Methodology

On the theoretical methodological level, (A) the reference levels or of complexity (for example molecule, cell, body, individual, group) and are their relation between played a big role in the Social sciences? This aspect is partly described with the bio-psycho-social slogan “”. In more (B), the four fundamental questions of biological research have a particular significance: Two of them are taken into account in all the Social sciences, (1) the question of the immediate relation of cause and effect (direct) during the functional processes (Causalité S) and (2) the question concerning the Ontogenèse. For better including/understanding the phenomena of the life in their complexity, it is necessary also (3) to wonder about their value of adaptation and (4) them Phylogenèse.

On the empirical methodological level, at the time of research on the fundamental questions, the comparison animal-human and the inter-cultural comparison are considered in the foreground, and if possible, on all the reference levels - for example the biochemical level (required pharmaceutical), on the cellular level and of the bodies (Physiologie), as well as the individual level and of the group (ethology).

Results

From the fundamental questions (cf Table 1: columns) and of the reference levels (lines), it is possible to establish a tabular framework of orientation, which includes the disciplines having relations with respect to the systematic layers of the alive one.

This “structural module of the interdisciplinarity” can be allotted and comparison between them, as indicated in Table 2, the disciplines having relationships to the performances of the nervous system (Paragraph C) as well as the questions which they raise (Paragraph A) and their results (Paragraph B; for example Table: ).

In particular for the investigations of connections proximales, the “fundamental” reference levels are a prerequisite for the comprehension of the “higher” levels. The knowledge of the laws of the basic levels (for example of cellular Physiology) is not sufficient to include/understand complex behavioral owners or an personal experience. The unit constitutes more than the sum of its parts. - Each reference level is of equal importance. The fields of the four fundamental questions are closely dependant. A “alternative” for the developments of contrasted theories is less close to reality than “vice versa”. When only connections proximales are studied and the ultimate causes are ignored (or vice versa), of many phenomena of the life remain unexplainable then and of many insufficient theories. An example: The question of knowing if “sexuality enfantile” influence the behavior of the parental care (for example câliner, to wind into a ball, the kiss), or if the parental care influences the social behavior and adult sexuality, can be solved using the 4° fundamental question: The parental care phylogenetically developed before the social behavior. The elements of the parental care were, at some groups of organized beings (living organisms), conditions phylogenetic precondition of social cohesions and became during the Evolution part of the social and sexual behavior of the adults (Eibl-Eibesfeldt)

Summary

The framework of orientation (of reference) for each discipline, whose object relates to the performances of the nervous system, is simple in its fundamental structure: It is supplemented, when is put the question using the owners of the four fundamental questions of the biological research (causalities, ontogenesis, value of adaptation, phylogenesis). Reference levels (for example: cell, body, individual, group) are simultaneously taken in considerations, it is towards them that the questions are put. (The questions and levels in italic in Table 1 are also the subject of the studies in Sciences of letters).

This “bio-psycho-social” framework of orientation constitutes the base for the development of an interdisciplinary consensus: It is the starting point for systematic of each discipline, as well as the base for a consistent structuring of the results. From a point of view of the cognitive Theory: Since the answers to the reference levels and all the four fundamental questions must agree together without contradictions, it is then possible to discover false designs due to inconsistency.

Bibliography:

Nicolai Hartmann - 1940. Der Aufbau DER realen Welt. Berlin, of Gruyter.

Rupert Riedl - 1984. Biology off Knowledge: The Evolutionary Basis off Reason. Chichester, John Wiley & Sounds.

Nikolaas Tinbergen - 1963. One Aims and Methods in Ethology. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie n° 20, p 410-433.

Category: Theory

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