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Model Theory & International Relations Theory: Positivism, Ontology and the Nature of Social Science |
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Abstract:
| When it comes to scientific investigation, positivism is no longer the only game in town, nor is it even the most prominent theory of how science works. Model Theory has become ascendent within the natural sciences, yet is still not explicitly rpesent in IR Theorizing. This paper seeks to rectify this shortcoming. Model Theory is a fundamentally different understanding of the nature of science, including different ontological and explanatory commitments. This paper argues that Model Theory does a far better job than positivism in accounting for the descriptive nature of mainstream IR Theory, and we argue that much of IR Theory is already working in a Model Theoretic framework. In accepting such a framework, we posit that IR theorists may bypass a number of important (and often unquestioned) issues arising from their ontological commitments to positivism, while not betraying their commitment to keeping the discipline scientific. |
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theori (126), model (79), intern (62), relat (55), scienc (42), natur (32), positiv (32), world (30), differ (30), explan (26), social (26), understand (22), framework (22), positivist (21), one (21), question (21), would (20), theorist (20), state (19), assumpt (19), scientif (19), |
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Association:
Name: ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES
URL: http://www.isanet.org
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MLA Citation:
| Whiting, Benjamin. and Carlson, Jon. "Model Theory & International Relations Theory: Positivism, Ontology and the Nature of Social Science" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Hilton San Francisco, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, Mar 26, 2008 Online <PDF>. 2008-08-19 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p251861_index.html> |
APA Citation:
| Whiting, B. J. and Carlson, J. D. (2008, Mar) "Model Theory & International Relations Theory: Positivism, Ontology and the Nature of Social Science" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Hilton San Francisco, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA Online <PDF> Retrieved 2008-08-19 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p251861_index.html |
Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: When it comes to scientific investigation, positivism is no longer the only game in town, nor is it even the most prominent theory of how science works. Model Theory has become ascendent within the natural sciences, yet is still not explicitly rpesent in IR Theorizing. This paper seeks to rectify this shortcoming. Model Theory is a fundamentally different understanding of the nature of science, including different ontological and explanatory commitments. This paper argues that Model Theory does a far better job than positivism in accounting for the descriptive nature of mainstream IR Theory, and we argue that much of IR Theory is already working in a Model Theoretic framework. In accepting such a framework, we posit that IR theorists may bypass a number of important (and often unquestioned) issues arising from their ontological commitments to positivism, while not betraying their commitment to keeping the discipline scientific. |
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| Document Type: | PDF | | Page count: | 17 | | Word count: | 5934 | | Text sample: | | Model Theory and International Relations Theory: Positivism Ontology and the Nature of Social Science Benjamin J. Whiting University of California Hastings School of Law ben.whiting@gmail.com Jon D. Carlson University of California Merced jcarlson3@ucmerced.edu Paper Prepared for Presentation at the ISA 2008 Annual Convention San Francisco CA March 26-29 2008 Working Paper – Please do not cite or disseminate. Comments Welcomed. 1 Model Theory and International Relations Theory International relations theory at least in the United States as a subset | | being the framework within which much IR theorizing is already working a more explicit embracing of model theory will allow scholars to sidestep problematic obstructions and come more in line with the natural sciences. But this move comes at a potentially high cost if it leaves us with conflicting policy prescriptions. We argue that the benefits of switching to an explicit model theory approach are worth the additional theoretical leverage but leave it up to the reader’s to weigh |
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