Philosophy of the Social Sciences

Aims & Scope

For more than four decades Philosophy of the Social Sciences has served as the international, interdisciplinary forum for current research, theory and debate on the philosophical foundations of the social services.

Philosophy of the Social Sciences focuses on the central issues of the social sciences, including general methodology (explaining, theorizing, testing) the application of philosophy (especially individualism versus holism), the nature of rationality and the history of theories and concepts.

Among the topics you'll explore are: ethnomethodology, evolution, Marxism, phenomenology, postmodernism, rationality, relativism, scientific methods, and textual interpretations.

Philosophy of the Social Sciences' open editorial policy ensures that you'll enjoy rigorous scholarship on topics viewed from many different-- and often conflicting-- schools of thought.

No school, party or style of philosophy of the social sciences is favoured.

Debate between schools is encouraged.

Each issue presents submissions by distinguished scholars from a variety of fields, including: anthropology, communications, economics, history, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and sociology.

Each issue brings you in-depth discussions, symposia, literature surveys, translations, and review symposia of interest both to philosophyers concerned with the social sciences and to social scientists concerned with the philosophical foundations of their subjects.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	0.4
2024	0.60

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.372

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	44

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	14521

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	64

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• That's Interesting!

  Citation: 888

  Authors: Murray S.

• I.1 The Work of a Discovering Science Construed with Materials from the Optically Discovered Pulsar

  Citation: 426

  Authors: Harold, Michael, Eric

• Mechanism and Explanation

  Citation: 351

  Authors: Mario

• Mechanisms in the Analysis of Social Macro-Phenomena

  Citation: 342

  Authors: Renate

• How Does It Work?

  Citation: 339

  Authors: Mario

• Complexity Theory, Systems Theory, and Multiple Intersecting Social Inequalities

  Citation: 331

  Authors: Sylvia

• Practices and Actions A Wittgensteinian Critique of Bourdieu and Giddens

  Citation: 249

  Authors: Theodore R.

• Social Boundary Mechanisms

  Citation: 239

  Authors: Charles

• The Conditions of Fruitfulness of Theorizing About Mechanisms in Social Science

  Citation: 234

  Authors: Arthur L.

• Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Theorizing

  Citation: 176

  Authors: Steve

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