CFP: Synthese Topical Collection: Explanation, Narrative, and Understanding in the Social Sciences

CFP: Synthese Topical Collection ‘Explanation, Narrative, and Understanding in the Social Sciences’

Guest Editors: Yafeng Shan (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) and Qinyi Wang (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Description: Explanation has been one of the central issues in the philosophy of science. Recently it has been an increasing interest in narrative and understanding. The significance of narrative in scientific practice was re-assessed, while the nature of scientific understanding has been extensively examined. Still, to a great extent, recent discussions on explanation, narrative, and understanding are framed in the context of the natural sciences, despite that they all play important roles in social science research. This topical collection aims to examine the notions of explanation, narrative, and understanding in social science. The questions to be addressed include but are not limited to:

* What is understanding in the social sciences?

* Can the main accounts of scientific understanding be fruitfully applied to the social sciences?

* What role does narrative play in the social sciences?

* What is the relation of explanation, narrative, and understanding in the social sciences?

https://link.springer.com/collections/gjdbjijace

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the guest editors:

Yafeng Shan ([email protected])

Qinyi Wang ([email protected])