ABSTRACT
The anti-naturalists, while arguing against Hempelian covering law model or causal explanation, do not take it appropriate for explaining human thought and behaviour, that is, for explaining social phenomena. They propose certain alternative models which are, according to them, relevant and appropriate for explanation in social sciences. These are functional explanation, purposive or teleological explanation, explanation as redescription and explanation in terms of reasons, that is, in terms of beliefs, motives etc. The details of these different types of explanations are discussed in this chapter. All the above types of explanations except ‘explanations as redescription’ can be in general understood as explanations in terms of reason with some differences. Explanation in terms of redescription is related to the narration of antecedent events related to the act or event to be explained, which makes the entire situation clear and understandable.
Besides dealing with different types of explanations as above, a desperate issue has also been raised and discussed in this chapter under the heading holistic vs. individualistic explanations. A discussion has been made on whether social explanation should be the explanation of the act of society as a whole or it should be the explanation in terms of the acts of different individuals of the society.
