Mantzavinos, C. (2012) Explanations of Meaningful Actions. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 42. pp. 224-238. ISSN 0048-3931

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Abstract

There is a long tradition in philosophy and the social sciences that emphasizes the meaningfulness of human action. This tradition doubts or even negates the possibility of causal explanations of human action precisely on the basis that human actions have meaning. This paper provides an argument in favour of methodological naturalism in the social sciences. It grants the main argument of the Interpretivists, i.e. that human actions are meaningful, but it shows how a transformation of a “nexus of meaning” into a “causal nexus” can take place, proposing the “successful transformation argument”.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Mantzavinos, C. cmantzavinos@phs.uoa.gr
Keywords:	Meaning; Action; Explanation; Verstehen; Interpretation; Naturalism
Subjects:	General Issues > Decision Theory General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Dr. Chrysostomos Mantzavinos
Date Deposited:	15 Nov 2020 05:29
Last Modified:	15 Nov 2020 05:29
Item ID:	18397
Journal or Publication Title:	Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Publisher:	SAGE
Official URL:	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/004839311...
Subjects:	General Issues > Decision Theory General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	2012
Page Range:	pp. 224-238
Volume:	42
ISSN:	0048-3931
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18397

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