Article:
At the end of each interview with host David Edmonds for the Social Science Bites podcast, he asks the same question: Whose work most influenced you? The answers to this question often don’t make it to the podcast recordings, but they offer an interesting snapshot of the variety and breadth of the social and behavioral sciences.
In this retrospective, we take a look at the responses to this question and how they fit into the larger picture of the social science landscape.
The answers to the question “Whose work most influenced you?” paint a fascinating picture of the social sciences. They demonstrate the impact of individuals and their ideas on the field, as well as the variety of topics and approaches to social science research.
The responses to the question come from a range of sources, from academics to practitioners. They range from scholars such as Karl Marx and Max Weber to more contemporary figures such as Herbert Simon and Thomas Schelling.
The answers also provide a glimpse into the diversity of the social sciences. It’s not just the usual suspects – economists, sociologists, and political scientists – who are influencing the field. There’s also psychologists, anthropologists, historians, and many more.
The answers to the question also provide insight into how different people approach the social sciences. For some, it’s about understanding how people interact with their environment; for others, it’s about understanding how societies are structured; and for yet others, it’s about understanding how individuals make decisions.
The answers also demonstrate the impact of certain individuals on the field. For example, many respondents cite Karl Marx and Max Weber as having had a major influence on their work. It’s clear that the work of these two figures continue to shape the social sciences, and their influence is felt in many different ways.
The answers to the question also provide a glimpse into the changing nature of the social sciences. We’re seeing more and more interdisciplinary work, as well as the emergence of new topics, such as behavioral economics, which is having a major impact on the field.
It’s clear that the answers to the question “Whose work most influenced you?” reveal the diversity, complexity, and dynamism of the social sciences. From the work of the greats to the emergence of new topics, the responses to this question demonstrate the vibrancy of the field.
In conclusion, the answers to the question “Whose work most influenced you?” provide a fascinating glimpse into the breadth and variety of the social science enterprise. From the work of the greats such as Marx and Weber to the emergence of new topics, the responses to this question demonstrate the dynamism of the field.
By taking a look at the responses to this question, we can gain insight into the diversity and complexity of the social sciences. It’s clear that the field is constantly evolving, and the answers to this question provide a snapshot of the current state of the field.
