What is positivism? Discuss Giddens’s critique of positivism. Positivism is a philosophy that emphasizes the use of scientific methods, particularly the scientific method, to study and understand social phenomena. It is based on the belief that knowledge of the natural world can be obtained through observation and experimentation, and that this knowledge can be applied to the social world. Positivists argue that social phenomena can be studied in the same way as natural phenomena, and that social laws can be discovered through the collection and analysis of empirical data..

What is positivism? Discuss Giddens’s critique of positivism.

Giddens’s critique of positivism is that it is reductionist and fails to take into account the complexity and subjectivity of social phenomena. Giddens argues that positivism reduces social phenomena to observable facts and ignores the subjective experiences and meanings that individuals attach to those facts. He also points out that positivism is based on a separation of fact and value, and it does not take into account the value-laden nature of social science research. Giddens claims that positivism is not able to fully understand the social world and that it is necessary to take into account the perspectives of the individuals involved in the social phenomenon under study.

In addition, Giddens argues that positivism is unable to account for the structural features of social action and that it is unable to account for the active role of individuals in shaping their own lives and social structures. He claims that Positivism's "image of society" is mechanical, and it is unable to account for the agency of human beings and how they act and interact in social structures. He maintains that social structures are created and maintained by human actions, and they are not fixed or predetermined.

In summary, Giddens's critique of positivism is that it is too narrow and reductionist, and it is unable to account for the complexity, subjectivity, and agency of social phenomena.

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