Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• payam fazli

PhD in philosophy of Islamic economics

Abstract

This article examines and discusses the application of naturalistic methodology in social sciences and the challenges facing this methodology. Social science methodology faces a fundamental question; whether the application of natural science methodology in social sciences is efficient or not. In response to this fundamental and important question, some have proposed a methodology similar to that of natural sciences in social sciences, while others have pointed out the differences between natural sciences and social sciences and have advocated a methodology specific to social sciences. The first approach is described as naturalism and the second approach as anti-naturalism. It seems that the purpose we consider for science or whether we give logical precedence to theory or observation can have a fundamental impact on the methodology adopted. As a result, this article defends a critical naturalistic approach. In this methodology, it distances itself from the purely reductionist and positivist currents in the social sciences and advocates a modified naturalism as one of the efficient methodological approaches in the social sciences. However, unlike most naturalists, it does not consider this methodology as an exclusive approach in social research and considers it useful alongside methods specific to the social sciences.

Keywords

• Naturalism
• Anti-naturalism
• positivist approach
• reductionism
• critical naturalism

Main Subjects

• philosophy