Methodological Individualism

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Recommended: An Essay On Methodological Individualism

In the social sciences, an endless debate is ongoing involving fundamental issues pertaining between methodological individualism and methodological holism. The reason this is such a deep rooted heated debate amongst researchers is the fact that it touches upon our most 'deeply-seated' beliefs about the nature of the individual and of society, our knowledge about these, and the idea of a good society (Udehn, 2002). According to Parsons (1937) methodological individualism is a claim in social phenomena which must be explained by showing how these results from individual actions, which in turn must be explained through reference to the intentional states that motivate the individual actors. Simply put, it is the claim that explanations of “macro” social phenomena must be supplied with “micro” foundations (Alexander, 1987). The main objective of this paper is to look at arguments from both spectrums of the advantages and disadvantages of the ideology of methodological individualism. The aim is not conclude which is better, but simply to understand the arguments on both sides.
To believe in methodological individualism means that all theories must be developed as “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” and thus it must be denied that any group characteristics is undefinable in terms of the individuals comprised in the group. One of the main arguments proposed by Mandelbaum (1955) is that of the “teller and customer.” The exposition unfolds by describing a social fact of their interaction situation, and asking a hypothetical reductionist to explain its psychological terms. If this can be done, another feature of the interaction is presented, and an explanation in psychological terms is again demanded. This process is repeated to...

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Mandelbaum, M. (1957). Societal laws.

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Mises, L. (1998). Human action. A treatise on economics.

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Parsons, T. (1937). The structure of social action: Volume II.

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