Study On Social Mechanisms

During the past decade, social mechanisms have become one of the central issues in the philosophy of social science, and relevant research has witnessed significant advancements. As a kind of methodology on the level of theoretical research, social mechanisms have important theoretical status in the field of causal inference in the philosophy of social science. Although research on social mechanisms was increasing and the methods were developed both at home and abroad, but there have not been any clear definitions for social mechanisms concepts yet. This article aims to study the background of historical evolution of social mechanisms, and clarify the connotation and theoretical characteristics of social mechanisms, and points out its theoretical and practical significance as well as its deficiency in social science, in order to get clear and systematic understanding of social mechanism.In the introduction, the author briefly introduces the main concepts and research routes of this article, and mainly explores the background of historical evolution of social mechanisms. In the first chapter, we discusses the connotation of social mechanism in social science. Robert Merton and Mario Bunge are the most famous figures of social mechanisms. Merton defines social mechanisms as "social processes having designated consequences for designated parts of the social structure"; Bunge make system research on the concept of social mechanisms, his definition of social mechanism is more authoritative and comprehensive. By studying the idea of social mechanism both at home and abroad, we can gain an overall understanding of social mechanisms:Social mechanisms is based on the interpretation and analysis, it is a structure performing a function by virtue of its component parts and component operations and their organization. This is a social mechanism conceptual expression, and also is the foundation characteristic of social mechanisms theory. In the chapter two, the author firstly generalize social mechanism’s common characteristics:Social mechanisms is mechanism-based explanation; Social mechanisms is a kind of causal concepts; Social mechanisms have multiple levels. Then around the social mechanism of the three characteristics, make mechanism theory more clear. In the third chapter, the author elaborate the significance of social mechanisms in social science. The development of social mechanisms become a important causal reasoning tools of social science, and it is an alternative to the covering law. In addition, social mechanisms also can helps to solve the problem of confounders.The author believes that although the social mechanisms has gained great development at present, but it is not hard to see that its development is also associated with the challenges. Therefore, social mechanism must draw some useful apocalypse from other theory to improve its own theoretical system.