Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2013
To discuss all of the points at which we seem to disagree would be an unwarranted imposition upon readers of this Review, many of whom, I fear, will not have read the book in question. Consequently I propose to stick to the central issues so far as possible, for to a considerable extent these transcend the book itself; and therefore some purpose will be served even for those who have not read the book.
1 On the limitations of operationalism in scientific theory, see Hempel, C. G., Fundamentals of Concept Formation in Empirical Science (Chicago, 1952), pp. 23–50Google Scholar. On the dangers of premature application of operationalism in political science, a good statement is in Easton, David, The Political System (New York, 1953), pp. 314 ff.Google Scholar
2 The intensity problem is: Can rules for social decisions be constructed that will take into account differences in intensity of preference; as, for example, when a majority only slightly prefers one alternative and a minority passionately prefers another?
3 Cf. particularly Braithwaite, R. B., Scientific Explanation (Cambridge, 1955)Google Scholar, Ch. VII, “The Choice Between Statistical Hypotheses,” pp. 196–254.
Comments
No Comments have been published for this article.