LES MODÈLES FORMELS ET L'EXPLICATION EN SCIENCES SOCIALES. (French)

The definite models and explanation in social sciences. (English)

In this article two modes of knowing the social world are opposed, a descriptive one linked to realism of effects, and an explicative one linked to realism of causes. The first is based on models of total complex phenomena, without any consideration to the real processes at play. The second is based on models of real processes, with no aim to reproduce total observed phenomena. The practical impossibility to translate realistically, both causes and effects of real social processes permits one to clarify the problem of the criteria of validity of models in social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On oppose dans cet article deux modes de connaissance du monde social, un mode descriptif attaché au réalisme des effets, et un mode explicatif attaché au réalisme des causes. Le premier s'appuie sur la modélisation de phénomènes totaux complexes, sans égard aux processus réels en jeu. Le second s'appuie sur la modélisation des processus réels, sans chercher á reproduire les phénomènes totaux observables. L'impossibilité pratique de rendre compte simultanément de manière réaliste des causes et des effets des processus sociaux réels permet d'éclairer le problème des critères de la validité des modèles en sciences sociales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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