Humanities Between Development The Importance of Research in its Methods

Abstract

The human sciences have endeavored to establish their own methodologies for studying humans as both a phenomenon and a subject of knowledge. This effort draws upon the development of experimental methods in the physical, natural, and chemical sciences over the past three centuries—namely the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. During these periods, significant figures such as Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and Max Planck emerged in the scientific field. Concurrently, the human sciences began to gradually diverge from the domain of philosophy, influenced by the advancements in modern Western philosophy that reshaped the cognitive frameworks of all sciences. Despite their attempts to construct an independent knowledge system, the human sciences have not entirely extricated themselves from the theoretical and abstract nature inherent in philosophy.

Moreover, the evolution of methods within the human sciences has been closely tied to the pivotal roles played by intellectuals and philosophers in European universities, exemplified by the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. The development of these sciences also heavily relied on the precision of mathematics. Interpretive philosophy contributed to this development by attempting to provide a methodological framework for the human sciences. Additionally, other models, such as that of Wilhelm Dilthey, sought to offer materialistic explanations for human phenomena.

In conclusion, this article presents various scientific perspectives for advancing the human sciences.