社会科学的性质和功能:知识社会学的视角

The Nature and Function of Social Science: A Perspective of the Sociology of Knowledge

认识社会科学的性质及其在现代社会中的功能和意义,不仅是一个知识学的课题,而且有着重要的现实意义。社会科学与现代社会和现代性之间有着内在构成性关系,社会科学的明显而强烈的实践性在一定程度上决定了其在认识论上的社会性、经验性、因果性和客观性。正是这种“科学性”品质,使社会科学成为现代社会制度的知识和智能基础,成为现代社会秩序的重要前提,也成为现代社会自由、民主和公正等信念的精神和价值基础。

The features of social science and its function and significance in modern society are not only a subject of Wissenschaftslehre but also of great practical significance. There is an internal relationship between social science, modern society, and modernity. This outstanding and forceful practical feature, to some extent, defines its social, empirical, causal, and objective features in epistemology. It is just these scientific features that make social science the base of knowledge and intelligence in modern society, an important premise of modern social order, and also the basis of spirit and value of such beliefs as freedom, democracy and fairness.