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The '''social sciences''' are a group of academic disciplines that study human aspects of the world. They diverge from the [[arts]] and [[humanities]] in that the social sciences tend to emphasize the use of the [[scientific method]] in the study of humanity, including [[quantitative method|quantitative]] and [[qualitative method|qualitative]] methods.   

The '''social sciences''' are a group of academic disciplines that study human aspects of the world. They diverge from the [[arts]] and [[humanities]] in that the social sciences tend to emphasize the use of the [[scientific method]] in the study of humanity, including [[quantitative method|quantitative]] and [[qualitative method|qualitative]] methods.   

   

   

===Economics===

===Economics===

[[Economics]] is a social science that seeks to analyze and describe the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth.[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9109547?query=Economics&ct=] The word "economics" is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] polytonic|οἶκος [''oikos''], "family, household, estate," and  νόμος [''nomos''], "custom, law," and hence means "household management" or "management of the state." An [[economist]] is a person using economic concepts and data in the course of employment, or someone who has earned a university [[academic degree|degree]] in the subject. The classic brief definition of economics, set out by [[Lionel Robbins]] in 1932, is "the science which studies human behavior as a relation between scarce means having alternative uses." Absent scarcity and alternative uses, there is no [[economic problem]]. Briefer yet is "the study of how people seek to satisfy needs and wants" and "the study of the financial aspects of human behaviour."

[[Economics]] is a social science that seeks to analyze and describe the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth.[https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9109547?query=Economics&ct=] The word "economics" is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] polytonic|οἶκος [''oikos''], "family, household, estate," and  νόμος [''nomos''], "custom, law," and hence means "household management" or "management of the state." An [[economist]] is a person using economic concepts and data in the course of employment, or someone who has earned a university [[academic degree|degree]] in the subject. The classic brief definition of economics, set out by [[Lionel Robbins]] in 1932, is "the science which studies human behavior as a relation between scarce means having alternative uses." Absent scarcity and alternative uses, there is no [[economic problem]]. Briefer yet is "the study of how people seek to satisfy needs and wants" and "the study of the financial aspects of human behaviour."

Economics has two broad branches: [[microeconomics]], where the unit of analysis is the individual agent, such as a household, firm and [[macroeconomics]], where the unit of analysis is an economy as a whole. Another division of the subject distinguishes [[positive (social sciences)|positive]] economics, which seeks to predict and explain economic phenomena, from [[normative]] economics, which orders choices and actions by some criterion; such orderings necessarily involve [[Subjectivity|subjective]] value judgments. Since the early part of the 20th century, economics has focused largely on measurable quantities, employing both theoretical models and empirical analysis. Quantitative models, however, can be traced as far back as the [[physiocrats|physiocratic school]]. Economic reasoning has been increasingly applied in recent decades to social situations where there is no monetary consideration, such as [[public choice theory|politics]], [[law]], [[Experimental economics|psychology]], [[Economic history|history]], [[religion]], [[marriage]] and family life, and other social interactions.

Economics has two broad branches: [[microeconomics]], where the unit of analysis is the individual agent, such as a household, firm and [[macroeconomics]], where the unit of analysis is an economy as a whole. Another division of the subject distinguishes [[positive (social sciences)|positive]] economics, which seeks to predict and explain economic phenomena, from [[normative]] economics, which orders choices and actions by some criterion; such orderings necessarily involve [[Subjectivity|subjective]] value judgments. Since the early part of the 20th century, economics has focused largely on measurable quantities, employing both theoretical models and empirical analysis. Quantitative models, however, can be traced as far back as the [[physiocrats|physiocratic school]]. Economic reasoning has been increasingly applied in recent decades to social situations where there is no monetary consideration, such as [[public choice theory|politics]], [[law]], [[Experimental economics|psychology]], [[Economic history|history]], [[religion]], [[marriage]] and family life, and other social interactions.

===Education===

===Education===

Education [[List of education topics|encompasses]] [[teaching]] and [[learning]] specific [[skill]]s, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of [[knowledge]], positive [[judgement]] and well-developed [[wisdom]]. Education has as one of its fundamental aspects the imparting of [[culture]] from generation to generation (see [[socialization]]). Education means 'to draw out', facilitating realisation of self-potential and latent talents of an individual. It is an application of [[pedagogy]], a body of theoretical and applied research relating to teaching and learning and draws on many disciplines such as [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], [[computer science]], [[linguistics]], [[neuroscience]], [[sociology]] and [[anthropology]].[http://www.teachersmind.com/education.htm An overview of education]

Education [[List of education topics|encompasses]] [[teaching]] and [[learning]] specific [[skill]]s, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of [[knowledge]], positive [[judgement]] and well-developed [[wisdom]]. Education has as one of its fundamental aspects the imparting of [[culture]] from generation to generation (see [[socialization]]). Education means 'to draw out', facilitating realisation of self-potential and latent talents of an individual. It is an application of [[pedagogy]], a body of theoretical and applied research relating to teaching and learning and draws on many disciplines such as [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], [[computer science]], [[linguistics]], [[neuroscience]], [[sociology]] and [[anthropology]].[https://www.teachersmind.com/education.htm An overview of education]

The education of an individual human begins at birth and continues throughout life. (Some believe that education begins even before birth, as evidenced by some parents' playing music or reading to the baby in the womb in the hope it will influence the child's development.) For some, the struggles and triumphs of daily [[personal life | life]] provide far more instruction than does formal [[school]]ing (thus [[Mark Twain]]'s admonition to "never let school interfere with your education"). [[Family]] members may have a profound educational effect — often more profound than they realize — though family teaching may function very informally.

The education of an individual human begins at birth and continues throughout life. (Some believe that education begins even before birth, as evidenced by some parents' playing music or reading to the baby in the womb in the hope it will influence the child's development.) For some, the struggles and triumphs of daily [[personal life | life]] provide far more instruction than does formal [[school]]ing (thus [[Mark Twain]]'s admonition to "never let school interfere with your education"). [[Family]] members may have a profound educational effect — often more profound than they realize — though family teaching may function very informally.

===Law===

===Law===

Law in common parlance, means a rule which (unlike a rule of ethics) is capable of enforcement through institutions. Crimes Against Humanity by Geoffrey Robertson isbn=9780141024639. The study of law crosses the boundaries between the social sciences and humanities, depending on one's view of research into its objectives and effects. Law is not always enforceable, especially in the international relations context. It has been defined as a "system of rules",[[The Concept of Law]] Oxford University Press isbn=ISBN 0-19-876122-8 as an "interpretive concept Law's Empire isbn=ISBN-10: 0674518365 to achieve justice, as an "authority" The Authority of Law, Oxford University Press to mediate people's interests, and even as "the command of a sovereign, backed by the threat of a sanction". John Austin (legal philosopher) The Providence of Jurisprudence Determined. However one likes to think of law, it is a completely central social institution. Legal policy incorporates the practical manifestation of thinking from almost every social sciences and humanity. Laws are politics, because politicians create them. Law is philosophy, because moral and ethical persuasions shape their ideas. Law tells many of history's stories, because statutes, case law and codifications build up over time. And law is economics, because any rule about [[contract]], [[tort]], [[property law]], [[labour law]], [[company law]] and many more can have long lasting effects on the distribution of wealth. The noun ''law'' derives from the late [[Old English language|Old English]] ''lagu'', meaning something laid down or fixed [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=law&searchmode=none Etymonline Dictionary] and the adjective ''legal'' comes from the Latin word ''lex''. [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/legal Mirriam-Webster's Dictionary]

Law in common parlance, means a rule which (unlike a rule of ethics) is capable of enforcement through institutions. Crimes Against Humanity by Geoffrey Robertson isbn=9780141024639. The study of law crosses the boundaries between the social sciences and humanities, depending on one's view of research into its objectives and effects. Law is not always enforceable, especially in the international relations context. It has been defined as a "system of rules",[[The Concept of Law]] Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-876122-8 as an "interpretive concept Law's Empire ISBN 0674518365 to achieve justice, as an "authority" The Authority of Law, Oxford University Press to mediate people's interests, and even as "the command of a sovereign, backed by the threat of a sanction". John Austin (legal philosopher) The Providence of Jurisprudence Determined. However one likes to think of law, it is a completely central social institution. Legal policy incorporates the practical manifestation of thinking from almost every social sciences and humanity. Laws are politics, because politicians create them. Law is philosophy, because moral and ethical persuasions shape their ideas. Law tells many of history's stories, because statutes, case law and codifications build up over time. And law is economics, because any rule about [[contract]], [[tort]], [[property law]], [[labour law]], [[company law]] and many more can have long lasting effects on the distribution of wealth. The noun ''law'' derives from the late [[Old English language|Old English]] ''lagu'', meaning something laid down or fixed [https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=law&searchmode=none Etymonline Dictionary] and the adjective ''legal'' comes from the Latin word ''lex''. [https://www.m-w.com/dictionary/legal Mirriam-Webster's Dictionary]

===Linguistics===

===Linguistics===

* 1934, [[Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences]]

* 1934, [[Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences]]

* 1968, [[International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences]] Edited by [[David L. Sills]] and [[Robert K. Merton]].

* 1968, [[International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences]] Edited by [[David L. Sills]] and [[Robert K. Merton]].

* 2001, [[International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences]] / ed.-in-chief [[Neil J. Smelser]]; [[Paul B. Baltes]], Amsterdam [etc.] : Elsevier, 2001-

* 2001, [[International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences]] / ed.-in-chief [[Neil J. Smelser]]; [[Paul B. Baltes]], Amsterdam : Elsevier

== Further reading ==

== Further reading ==

* [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology Wikibooks: Introduction to sociology]

* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology Wikibooks: Introduction to sociology]

* Efferson, C. & Richerson, P.J. (In press). A prolegomenon to nonlinear empiricism in the human behavioral sciences. ''Philosophy and Biology''. [http://www.des.ucdavis.edu/faculty/richerson/Prolegomena%204%200.pdf Full text]

* Efferson, C. & Richerson, P.J. (In press). A prolegomenon to nonlinear empiricism in the human behavioral sciences. ''Philosophy and Biology''. [https://www.des.ucdavis.edu/faculty/richerson/Prolegomena%204%200.pdf Full text]

*[http://www.holycross.edu/departments/socant/rsinglet/ Singleton, Royce, A.], Straits, Bruce C., [http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Sociology/TheoryMethods/~~/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5NTE0Nzk0MA== "Approaches to Social Research"], [[Oxford University Press]], 1988. ISBN 0195147944

*[https://www.holycross.edu/departments/socant/rsinglet/ Singleton, Royce, A.], Straits, Bruce C., [https://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Sociology/TheoryMethods/~~/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5NTE0Nzk0MA== "Approaches to Social Research"], [[Oxford University Press]], 1988. ISBN 0195147944

== Academic resources ==

== Academic resources ==

* The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, ISSN: [http://ann.sagepub.com/ 1552-3349] (electronic) ISSN: 0002-7162 (paper), SAGE Publications

* The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, ISSN: [https://ann.sagepub.com/ 1552-3349] (electronic) ISSN: 0002-7162 (paper), SAGE Publications

==See also==

==See also==

* [[List of academic disciplines]]

* [[List of academic disciplines]]

* [[Science]]

* [[Science]]

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.dialogical.net/socialsciences/index.html Social Science Virtual Library]

* [https://www.dialogical.net/socialsciences/index.html Social Science Virtual Library]

* [http://xlab.berkeley.edu UC Berkeley Experimental Social Science Laboratory]

* [https://xlab.berkeley.edu UC Berkeley Experimental Social Science Laboratory]

* [http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/ Intute: Social Sciences] (UK)

* [https://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/ Intute: Social Sciences] (UK)

* [http://www.ceunit.com psychologists]

* [https://www.ceunit.com psychologists]

* [http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/sshtim.htm History of Social Science]

* [https://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/sshtim.htm History of Social Science]

* [http://www.polyarchy.org/poststatism/english/index.html On the Social Sciences] Critical Essays

* [https://www.polyarchy.org/poststatism/english/index.html On the Social Sciences] Critical Essays

* [http://www.mises.org/rothbard/praxeologymethod.pdf praxeology as the method of the social sciences]

* [https://www.mises.org/rothbard/praxeologymethod.pdf praxeology as the method of the social sciences]

* [http://www.mises.org/rothbard/extreme.pdf in defense of extreme apriorism][http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_sciences&action=edit]

* [https://www.mises.org/rothbard/extreme.pdf in defense of extreme apriorism][https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_sciences&action=edit]

 

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]