LE3 .A278 2000

2000

Pyrcz, Greg

Acadia University

Master of Arts

Masters

Political Science

Politics

Charles Taylor is one of modern philosophy's brightest lights. He has written on a myriad of political, sociological, and philosophical themes; however, Taylor's concern with the philosophy of the social sciences has been the tie that has held together his diverse anthology of scholarship. The objective of this thesis is to examine critically Charles Taylor's contribution to the philosophy of the social sciences. For this purpose, Taylor's hermeneutic approach to the study of human phenomena is discussed and distinguished from logical empiricism, the post-empiricism of Thomas Kuhn, and the universal hermeneutics of Richard Rorty. A focal point of the thesis is Taylor's commitment to the duality of science and his attempts to preserve the so-called Diltheyan distinction. The thesis also examines and ultimately rejects the Kuhnian suggestion that a tripartite division of science would be more adequate than Taylor's dichotomy.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2844