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Philosophy of the Social Sciences
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Methodological Individualism, Explanation, and Invariance

Daniel Steel

Michigan State University, East Lansing

This article examines methodological individualism in terms of the theory that invariance under intervention is the signal feature of generalizations that serve as a basis for causal explanation. This theory supports the holist contention that macro-level generalizations can explain, but it also suggests a defense of methodological individualism on the grounds that greater range of invariance under intervention entails deeper explanation. Although this individualist position is not threatened by multiple-realizability, an argument for it based on rational choice theory is called into question by experimental results concerning preference reversals.

Key Words: methodological individualism • mechanisms • explanation • invariance • preference reversal

Philosophy of the Social Sciences, Vol. 36, No. 4, 440-463 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0048393106293455
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[Abstract] [PDF]