On The Methodological Individualism In Social Science

Methodological Individualism has a special status and influence in the west social sciences and philosophy, and it is considered the major work of social science researchers in the Western countries. The progress of Western economics, sociology, political science, psychology and other subjects is closely related to it. Therefore, systematic studies on Methodological Individualism will have particular theoretical and academic value. This article aims to explore the history origins, theory, common characteristics and self-improvement of Methodological Individualism in social science, in order that people would have a clear and accurate understanding on it, and hold a fair, objective position on its future development.In the introduction, the author briefly introduces the main concepts and research routes of this article, presents Methodological Individualism's important status. In the first chapter, the author mainly explores the origins of Methodological Individualism. In the second chapter, the author discusses Methodological Individualism's theories. Schumpeter, Max Weber, Karl Popper and Hayek are representative figures in modern social science research, who advocate Methodological Individualism strongly. This part analyses and discusses these four masters'Methodological Individualism ideas, demonstrates Methodological Individualism's research program and mode through various specific aspects, that is its core ideas - the interpretation of the social holistic phenomena must be settled on the interpretation of the individual. In the Chapter three, the author firstly generalize Methodological Individualism's common characteristics:there is a priority for individuals and the method to explain the whole by individuals; then discusses the Methodological Holism's criticism on Methodological Individualism based on these two characteristics; finally presents Methodological Individualism's self-improvement.The author thinks that although Methodological Individualism has gained great development at present, but it is not hard to see that its development is also associated with the challenges. The challenge is clear increasingly with Methodological Holism and other methodologies' development. Therefore, Methodology Individualism must learn widely from others'strong points and constantly improve its theoretical system, with a view to guide the social science research more better in the future in social science research. Of course, self-improvement of Methodological Individualism does not mean it is "dominant" in social science; on the contrary, the author thinks that social science methodology will be facing a wide range of trends to development, or even appear such "a hundred schools contend" wonderful situation. This is the only way to understanding social and social phenomena. Perhaps, this is the large realm that social development would achieve in the near future.