When local models fail
Philosophy of the Social Sciences 38 (1):3-24 (2008)
Abstract
Models treating the simple properties of social groups have a common shortcoming. Typically, they focus on the local properties of group members and the features of the world with which group members interact. I consider economic models of bureaucratic corruption, to show that (a) simple properties of groups are often constituted by the properties of the wider population, and (b) even sophisticated models are commonly inadequate to account for many simple social properties. Adequate models and social policies must treat certain factors that are not local to individual members of the group, even if those factors are not causally connected to those individuals. Key Words: individualism • corruption • supervenience • model • cause.Author's Profile
DOI
10.1177/0048393107310873
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Citations of this work
Rethinking the Individualism-Holism Debate.Julie Zahle & Finn Collin (eds.) - 2014 - Cham: Springer.
Two concepts of mechanism: Componential causal system and abstract form of interaction.Jaakko Kuorikoski - 2009 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 23 (2):143 – 160.
References found in this work
Collective Intentions and Actions.John Searle - 1990 - In Philip R. Cohen Jerry Morgan & Martha Pollack (eds.), Intentions in Communication. MIT Press. pp. 401-415.
The Common Mind: An Essay on Psychology, Society, and Politics.Philip Pettit - 1993 - Oxford University Press.
Walking Together: A Paradigmatic Social Phenomenon.Margaret Gilbert - 1990 - Midwest Studies in Philosophy 15 (1):1-14.