Бъдещето на фронетичните социални науки
The Future of Phronetic Social Sciences

How Can We Revive Value-Rationality in a Time of Crisis?

Summary/Abstract: In this article, I aim to clarify why the idea of prudence or practical rationality, as embodied in Aristotle’s concept of phronesis, is an object of special interest to some prominent social scientists such as G. H. von Wright and B. Flyvbjerg. I raise the hypothesis that if the concept of phronesis is elaborated upon as a value-rationality, as von Wright suggests, one can find some methodological hints for re-enchanting the status of the social sciences. Specifically, one can take a new stance in the debate whether or not social sciences can meet the requirements of so-called normal science, as the natural sciences do. As a crucial premise for outlining both the methodological advantages and disadvantages of phronetic social sciences in Flyvbjerg’s sense, I point out the role of what I call provocative humanism, which displays a developed vision of von Wright’s theory of provocative pessimism.

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