Is a Science of Humanity Possible? Foundational and Contemporary Debates in the Social Sciences

Dozent/in	Dr. phil. Willem Edward Church
Veranstaltungsart	Hauptseminar
Code	FS261560
Semester	Frühjahrssemester 2026
Durchführender Fachbereich	Ethnologie
Studienstufe	Bachelor Master
Termin/e	wöchentlich (Mo), ab 23.02.2026, 12:15 - 14:00 Uhr, 4.B02
Umfang	2 Semesterwochenstunden
Turnus	wöchentlich
Inhalt	In an era when the complexity of human societies transcends disciplinary boundaries, understanding the foundational debates of the social sciences is essential for anthropologists and social scientists alike. Is a Science of Humanity Possible? examines the theoretical and methodological challenges involved in studying human behaviour. The course traces key debates that have shaped the social sciences, asking: What does objectivity mean in this context, and is it achievable—or even desirable? What is implied by saying that a phenomenon is “socially constructed”? Can social life be reduced to individual actions? And to what extent can quantitative models explain human behaviour as natural science explains physical processes? By the end of the course, students will be able to navigate this conceptual terrain with greater confidence, critically assess competing frameworks for explaining and interpreting human behaviour, and situate their own disciplinary approaches within the broader landscape of social inquiry. The course is intended for advanced undergraduates and master’s students but is open to all seeking a rigorous overview of the central theoretical debates that define the social sciences today.
Sprache	Englisch
Anmeldung	***Important*** In order to acquire credits, it is mandatory to register for the course via the UniPortal. Registration opens two weeks before and ends two weeks after the start of the semester. Registrations and cancellations are no longer possible after this period. The exact registration dates can be found here: http://www.unilu.ch/ksf/semesterdaten
Abschlussform / Credits	Aktive Teilnahme / 4 Credits
Hinweise	Wifo: Das Seminar zählt für den Bereich Konzepte.
Kontakt	willem.church@doz.unilu.ch
Literatur	Risjord, Mark. 2023. Philosophy of Social Science: A Contemporary Introduction (Second Edition). New York: Routledge.