There are sharp differences among psychologists, sociologists, philosophers and others concerned with the behavioural and social sciences, not simply about the adequacy of particular explanatory systems, but about the very forms of explanation appropriate in this field. The editors have therefore invited a number of distinguished contributors to bring their views into direct confrontation.

There are sharp differences among psychologists, sociologists, philosophers and others concerned with the behavioural and social sciences, not simply about the adequacy of particular explanatory systems, but about the very forms of explanation appropriate in this field. The editors have therefore invited a number of distinguished contributors to bring their views into direct confrontation - each chapter takes the form of an exposition, a comment and a final reply by the first author. This volume was first published in 1970.