Is Multiple Realizability a Valid Argument against Methodological Individualism?

In recent decades, a number of authors have relied on the multiple realizability argument to reject methodological individualism. In this article, I argue that this strategy results in serious difficulties and makes it impossible to identify social entities and phenomena.

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhilosophy of the social sciences Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 28 - 43
Main Author Mitrovic, Branko
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2017
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Individualism
Methodological individualism
Methodology (Philosophical)
Methods
Philosophy of science
Research methodology
Social sciences
Keith Sawyer
multiple realizability
methodological holism
Harold Kincaid
methodological individualism
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Summary:In recent decades, a number of authors have relied on the multiple realizability argument to reject methodological individualism. In this article, I argue that this strategy results in serious difficulties and makes it impossible to identify social entities and phenomena.
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ISSN:0048-3931
1552-7441
DOI:10.1177/0048393116643591