The principle idea of the article under discussion is to consider the problem of the interpretation of the concepts belonging to social science. Alasdair MacIntyre tries to put an emphasis on the ambiguity of the social concepts by contradistinguishing them to the notions referring to the natural sciences. According to the author’s point of view, social questions are apt to possess a contestable character that has to be taken into account while analyzing their contents. In order to illustrate his idea, the author uses basic examples adopted from the political and educational fields.
MacIntyre begins his analysis of contestability of social contests by depicting the significance of the criteria one follows while considering a particular notion. Thus, the author claims that the generally accepted normality of certain phenomena is based on the personal beliefs and assumptions that are commonly presumed to be objective. Meanwhile, MacIntyre presumes that the convictions about a particular condition are equally debatable as the object of these convictions. Therefore, none of the existing concepts in the field of social science can be regarded as finite or determined (MacIntyre 1973, p.2).
MacIntyre points out the two principal characteristics typical of the social concepts. First of all, the author illustrates the influence of the established beliefs on the behaviour of a concept with the help of a military-focused example. Thence, according to MacIntyre, the concept of an officer can only function on condition that it is identically conceived both by the officer and the subordinates. In case the notion is misinterpreted by one of the sides, the concept’s basis will be ruined. In the meantime, the author notes that whereas mutual understanding naturally exists, applying to some notions, it is not always present in relation to the others. Thus, Maclntyre employs the example of political parties, the concept of which proves to be rather questionable due to the divergence of the social views (MacIntyre 1973, p.3).
Secondly, the author states that one of the principal features that make the social concepts different from the notions of science is the lack of law-governedness that endows the natural particulars with sufficient stability. Thus, the law-based criteria one applies to the analysis of such scientific concepts as planets and atoms turns out to be irrelevant when dealing with social particulars. The impossibility of making references to the law-governedness regarding political, familial and other social issues makes the contents’ continuity highly debatable (MacIntyre 1973, p.5).
The core part of the article is devoted to the analysis of the problem of the social concepts’ continuity. MacIntyre suggests that the necessity to consider social particulars within the framework of organizations and practices deprives one of the ability to estimate the notions’ continuity. The author depicts the incapability of forming objective predictions related to the outcome of a conflict within a certain concept drawing on the example of the British Conservative party. Pursuant to MacIntyre, one can hardly envision the state of the party in 1951, relying on the analysis of its character in 1871. Likewise, the retrospective predictions are also impossible – one is unable to judge on the Tories of 1880 basing on the data concerning the parties state in 1680 (MacIntyre 1973, p.6).
The author explains the forecasting difficulties both for the future and the past by two crucial factors. First of all, it is the shortage of relevant information that prevents an analyst from forming an adequate assumption. Secondly, it is the dependency of a predictor on the activity of his opponents. Another example that helps MacIntyre illustrate the ambiguity of social concepts is the issue of educational institutions. The author shows that any phrase employing the word “university” might be differently interpreted depending on the applied criteria (MacIntyre 1973, p.8). Thus, only an intended introduction of the relevant restrictions is able to prevent one from misunderstanding.
Nevertheless, MacIntyre points out that some social particulars are free from such characteristic as the essential contestability. Hence, the author provides examples from the economic field, such as a check or a contract. The author notes that the absoluteness is particularly obligatory for the proper functioning of these concepts. MacIntyre presumes that the described peculiarity is common to the most specific issue, while the broader economic questions such as theory and its content remain highly contestable. Therefore, the author makes a conclusion that the nonconstability of certain social concepts is to be regarded as an exceptional case, whereas the majority of the relevant notions possess the controversial character (MacIntyre 1973, p.9).
MacIntyre’s article enlightens the questions that are of crucial significance for forming a suitable approach to the interpretation of the widely-used concepts. Due to their simplicity, the vivid examples used by the author help one realize the entire ambiguity of the seemingly clear notions and particulars. The provided insights perform a valuable contribution to understanding the reasons for numerous arguments and debates constituting the social context. The suggested approach is likely to be applied to various fields including ethics, rhetoric discourse techniques and psychology.
Reference List
MacIntyre, A 1973, ‘The Essential Contestability of Some Social Concepts’, Ethics, vol. 84, no.1, pp. 1-19.