Social Theory and Values: A Hermeneutic Perspective

Abstract

In a post-positivist era few social scientists defend the complete `value-neutrality' of their theories or research. Confusion remains, however, about the role of cultural and moral values in psychological theory and its applications to human concerns. Some key quandaries concerning values and social theory are sketched against a broad historical and philosophical backdrop. The approach to values and ideological underpinnings of explanatory social science, `descriptivist' approaches and Habermas's critical theory are briefly analyzed. Ways are then explored in which a philosophical hermeneutic perspective like that of Gadamer or Taylor might capture the valid insights and overcome some of the shortcomings of these approaches.