"Methodological individualism, for which all social phenomena must be explained in terms of what individuals think, choose, and do, is widely considered to be true. By challenging key individualist assumptions, Bhargava questions this view and rehabilitates a non-individualist methodology which permits an independent study of social practices and a context-specific inquiry into the beliefs and actions of individuals." "This book will be indispensable to students and scholars of political science, philosophy, sociology, history, and anthropology."--BOOK JACKET.

This collection of papers investigates the most recent debates about individualism and holism in the philosophy of social science. The debates revolve mainly around two issues: firstly, whether social phenomena exist sui generis and how they relate to individuals. This is the focus of discussions between ontological individualists and ontological holists. Secondly, to what extent social scientific explanations may and should, focus on individuals and social phenomena respectively. This issue is debated amongst methodological holists and methodological individualists. In social science and philosophy, both issues have been intensively discussed and new versions of the dispute have appeared just as new arguments have been advanced. At present, the individualism/holism debate is extremely lively and this book reflects the major positions and perspectives within the debate. This volume is also relevant to debates about two closely related issues in social science: the micro-macro debate and the agency-structure debate. This book presents contributions from key figures in both social science and philosophy, in the first such collection on this topic to be published since the 1970s.

Throughout the history of social thought, there has been a constant battle over the true nature of society, and the best way to understand and explain it. This volume covers the development of methodological individualism, including the individualist theory of society from Greek antiquity to modern social science. It is a comprehensive and systematic treatment of methodological individualism in all its manifestations.

O'Neill, J. Scientism, historicism and the problem of rationality.--Hayek, F.A. From Scientism and the study of society.--Popper, K.R. From The poverty of historicism.--Brodbeck, M. On the philosophy of the social sciences.--Gewirth, A. Subjectivism and objectivism in the social sciences.--Rudner, R.S. Philosophy and social science.--Gewirth, A. Can men change the laws of social science?--Watkins, J.W.N. Ideal types and historical explanation.--Watkins, J.W.N. Historical explanation in the social sciences.--Watkins, J.W.N. Methodological individualism: a reply.--Agassi, J. Methodological individualism.--Scott, K.J. Methodological and epistemological individualism.--Mandelbaum, M. Societal facts.--Mandelbaum, M. Societal laws.--Gellner, E.A. Explanations in history.--Goldstein, L.J. The inadequacy of the principle of methodological individualism.--Goldstein, L.J. Two theses of methodological individualism.--Brodbeck, M. Methodological individualisms: definition and reduction.--Danto, A.C. Methodological individualism and methodological socialism.--Bibliography (p. 339-346).

While methodological individualism is a fundamental approach within the social sciences, it is often misunderstood. This highlights the need for a discursive and up-to-date reference work analyzing this approach’s classic arguments and assumptions in the light of contemporary issues in sociology, economics and philosophy. This two-volume handbook presents the first comprehensive overview of methodological individualism. Chapters discuss historical and contemporary debates surrounding this central approach within the social sciences, as well as cutting edge developments related to the individualist tradition with philosophical and scientific implications. Bringing together multiple contributions from the world’s leading experts on this important tradition of theorizing, this collective endeavor provides teachers, researchers and students in sociology, economics, and philosophy with a reliable and critical understanding of the founding principles, key thinkers and intellectual development of MI since the late 19th century. ​

Globalization has shifted perspectives on individualism and identity as cultural exchange occurs more rapidly in an age of heightened connectivity. As technology connects those around the world, it too helps to provoke a shift in the autonomy of individuals. The Handbook of Research on Individualism and Identity in the Globalized Digital Age is an essential resource for researchers, professionals, and graduate-level students. This book explores and explains how globalization has impacted humans with specific emphasis on education and human development. This research-based publication presents critical perspectives on universal changes that are occurring due to globalization.

This book examines individualism and holism, the two interpretive perspectives that have divided sociological theory into two camps, examines attempts to overcome this antinomy and sets out a new approach to resolving this dilemma via ‘critical reconfigurationism’.