The need of generality in Social Sciences

Abstract

This paper tries to perform the debate regarding two positions in socialsciences: a reduccionist position that states that if a discipline is scientificmust follow the natural sciences model, wherefore social sciences would notachieve this status because they cannot get the universality that naturalsciences achieve. In contrast to it, but without the appropriate discussionabout this model, a relativist position that considers that sure enough theknowledge they get is only particular and relative to each culture, has beengenerated in these sciences. This position has been developed, in part, following the interpretation performedabout the hermeneutic circle by Martin Hollis. In discussion withthese conceptions, the paper states that it is possible to achieve a generalityin social sciences and that, against the tendency of choosing between theuniversality of natural sciences and the particularity of the social ones, it isnecessary to accept different generality levels. Finally, with Ricoeur´s help,the way in which it is possible to understand this generality sense is exposed.