Methodological individualism
From Geography
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Methodological individualism is a view that all social events can be fully explained by reducing them to the beliefs and actions of only individuals, and the relations among them. | Methodological individualism is a view that all social events can be fully explained by reducing them to the beliefs and actions of only individuals, and the relations among them. | ||
Revision as of 13:55, 5 October 2011
Contents |
Contextual understanding
Methodological individualism is a view that all social events can be fully explained by reducing them to the beliefs and actions of only individuals, and the relations among them.
Philosophical underpinnings
It justifies its position on the basis that a real explanation is one that exaplins by reducing phenomena or events to their most fundmental constituent elements.
Critique
Methodological individualism typically tends to presume that individuals are governed by the singular motive of rational choice. Because of this narrow conception of human action and practice and broader derogation of the social, it is subject to wide criticism.
References
- Johnston,R.J., Gregory, Derek.,Pratt, Geraldine. & Watts, Michael. (2000). The Dictionary of Human Geography. 4th edition. Blackwell.
Contributors
- page created by Kolar Aparna
