On Sun, 9 Dec 2001, Hakki Alacakaptan wrote:
>
> || -----Original Message-----
> || From: Miles Jackson
> That can't be answered with anything less than a book. You assume that
> behavioral psychology produces social theories. US academia have imposed on
> the world a totally unscientific method of extrapolating social theory from
> controlled empirical experiments, rather than from field data. An experiment
> performed on a closed, controlled system out of its social context cannot
> produce information of a scope that surpasses the bounds of the experiment.
> This unscientific method of extrapolation has a political slant: It produces
> techniques for social manipulation in the workplace, government
> institutions, etc., and conveniently empties social theory of any critical
> content.
>
> Hakki
But scientific research in virtually every field "extrapolates" from a closed, controlled system and applies the knowledge to a complex social field. Examples: building a bridge; routine use of vaccinations; water treatment plants; skyscapers. Given your criterion of extrapolation, there is no truly "scientific" field!
Now, if you want to argue that science in our society is an ideological instrument, I'm all ears...I just see no reason to single out the "human sciences" here.
Miles