Respect for subjects in the ethics of causal and interpretive social explanation

Frazer, Michael L. (2020) Respect for subjects in the ethics of causal and interpretive social explanation. American Political Science Review, 114 (4). pp. 1001-1012. ISSN 0003-0554

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Abstract

Rival causal and interpretive approaches to explaining social phenomena have important ethical differences. While human actions can be explained as a result of causal mechanisms, as a meaningful choice based on reasons, or as some combination of the two, it is morally important that social scientists respect others by recognizing them as persons. Interpretive explanations directly respect their subjects in this way, while purely causal explanations do not. Yet although causal explanations are not themselves expressions of respect, they can be used in respectful ways if they are incorporated into subjects’ self-directed projects. This can occur when subjects correctly understand and freely adopt researchers’ goals through a process of informed consent. It can also occur when researchers correctly understand and adopt their subject’s goals, using their research to empower those they study.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Policy & Politics Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Cultural Politics, Communications & Media
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	28 May 2020 00:20
Last Modified:	09 Mar 2024 01:23
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/75319
DOI:	10.1017/S0003055420000453

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