The literature on methodological individualism is characterized by a widely held view that if the doctrine were stated with sufficient care it would be seen to be trivially true. Professor Bhargava questions this view. He begins by carefully disentangling the various formulations of the doctrine, identifies its most plausible version, and finally locates the principal assumption underlying it, namely that beliefs are attitudes individuated entirely in terms of what lies within the individual mind. Bhargava argues that once this individualist assumption is challenged it is possible to rehabilitate a non-individualist methodology which permits a contextual study of beliefs and actions, and even a study of social context relatively independent of the beliefs and actions of individuals.
Reviews
'this book is one of the most accomplished works critiquing Methodological Individualism that has appeared anywhere ... the book will deservedly establish a major international reputation for the author ... Setting such a high standard, however, can be both rewarding and frustrating. Rewarding in obvious ways and frustrating because mediocrity is rarely comfortable recognising excellence.' Achin Vanaik, Indian Express, May 1993
'This is a dense, scholarly work. Though its focus is precise, it touches upon a number of crucial debates in philosophy. The author introduces remarkable conceptual clarity in teasing out various strands of methodological individualism.' Jyotirmay Sharma, Financial Express, March 1993
'certainly the most sophisticated and thorough work written from an anti-individualistic point of view ... The book's most admirable property is its judiciousness.' The Philosophical Quarterly, 1994
a very good book ... one that is clear, very carefully argued, well-organized, with a firm mastery of the relevant literature, and breath-taking from cover to cover. ... his presentations are always sufficiently detailed and his re-constructions precise and sophisticated. ... he certainly succeeds in reassembling the issues which urgently deserve careful examination by social scientists and philosophers and, in so doing, is setting the agenda for new debates in contemporary social science. I strongly recommend the book to every one who thinks that something can be improved in that domain, and still more strongly to those who think the opposite. * Canadian Journal of Philosophy, vol.26, no.2, June 1996 *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198242796
Author Rajeev Bhargava
Format Hardback
Page Count 280
Imprint Clarendon Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 506g
Dimensions(mm) 225mm * 145mm * 22mm