Hay, C.S. orcid.org/0000-0001-6327-6547 (2017) Explanation, prediction, causation – an unholy trinity? Appreciative comments on Philosophy and Methods in Political Science. Political Studies Review, 15 (2). pp. 180-186. ISSN 1478-9299
Abstract
In this short but critical appreciation of Keith Dowding’s seminal Philosophy and Methods of Political Science I reflect on the distinctive treatment of both realism and explanation in contemporary political science that its author offers, expressing rather more sympath y for the former than the latter. I welcome his critique of the use and misuse of ‘isms’ in much of the existing literature, whilst pointing to some potential inconsistencies; I accept his broad and inclusive understanding of philosophic realism; and I pr aise Dowding for putting the question of explanation – and its adequacy – at the heart of the philosophy of political science (where I think it belongs). Yet I reject the idea that prediction is or, indeed, should be central to all social scientific expla nation. Similarly I take issue with the contention that we are typically distracted by questions of causation, suggesting that the presentation of a ‘credibly causal’ narrative is the crux of adjudicating good from bad explanation. I explore the implicat ions of such a position and conclude with comments on Dowding’s call for the reproducibility and transparency of data.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © SAGE Publications, 2017. This is an author-produced version of a paper accepted for publication in Political Studies Review. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Politics and International Relations (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 07 Feb 2017 15:38 |
Last Modified: | 05 Dec 2019 15:34 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/1478929917693640 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:111475 |