MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Feb 29, 2024
Differences between The Natural and Social Sciences and Their Consequences

Social science has been under the shadow of natural science ever since its birth in early modern Europe. This talk enumerates nine major differences between the natural and social sciences, and points out that the root cause of these differences is the distinctive nature of human beings, i.e., humans not only act upon instincts but also are capable of making strategic choices and justifying their actions by values and ideologies. As I have argued elsewhere, not having a fuller understanding of these differences and their ramifications is often the reason behind many pitfalls of social science inquiry. 

Biography

  • Zhao Dingxin
    Dingxin Zhao

    Dingxin Zhao is the director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences and chair of the Department of Sociology at Zhejiang University. He is also Max Palevsky Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Chicago. His research covers historical sociology, methodology, political sociology, social movements, social change and economic development. His current research project is on the epistemological and ontological aspects of social science methodologies. He is the author of award-winning books The Power of Tiananmen (2001) and The Confucian-Legalist State (2015) in English, and several other books in Chinese including Social and Political Movement, Limits of Democracy, Politics of Legitimation, and What is Sociology. His work also appears in journals such as American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, American Behavioral Scientist, Social Forces, Mobilization, and Sociology.

Organizer(s)
Address
Boltzmannstraße 18, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
B18–008/Zoom
Contact and Registration

We welcome both internal and external guests. For registration, please contact Dieu Linh Bui Dao.

 

2024-02-29T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2024-02-29 14:00:00 2024-02-29 15:30:00 Differences between The Natural and Social Sciences and Their Consequences Social science has been under the shadow of natural science ever since its birth in early modern Europe. This talk enumerates nine major differences between the natural and social sciences, and points out that the root cause of these differences is the distinctive nature of human beings, i.e., humans not only act upon instincts but also are capable of making strategic choices and justifying their actions by values and ideologies. As I have argued elsewhere, not having a fuller understanding of these differences and their ramifications is often the reason behind many pitfalls of social science inquiry.  Biography Dingxin Zhao Dingxin Zhao is the director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences and chair of the Department of Sociology at Zhejiang University. He is also Max Palevsky Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Chicago. His research covers historical sociology, methodology, political sociology, social movements, social change and economic development. His current research project is on the epistemological and ontological aspects of social science methodologies. He is the author of award-winning books The Power of Tiananmen (2001) and The Confucian-Legalist State (2015) in English, and several other books in Chinese including Social and Political Movement, Limits of Democracy, Politics of Legitimation, and What is Sociology. His work also appears in journals such as American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, American Behavioral Scientist, Social Forces, Mobilization, and Sociology. Boltzmannstraße 18, 14195 Berlin, Germany B18–008/Zoom Anna Lisa AhlersDieu Linh Bui Dao Anna Lisa AhlersDieu Linh Bui Dao Europe/Berlin public