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Demography in a new key

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  • Thomas K. Burch

    (University of Victoria)

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    Abstract

    The widespread opinion that demography is lacking in theory is based in part on a particular view of the nature of scientific theory, generally known as logical empiricism [or positivism]. A newer school of philosophy of science, the model-based view, provides a different perspective on demography, one that enhances its status as a scientific discipline. From this perspective, much of formal demography can be seen as a collection of substantive models of population dynamics [how populations and cohorts behave], in short, theoretical knowledge. And many theories in behavioural demography - often discarded as too old or too simplistic - can be seen as perfectly good scientific theory, useful for many purposes, although often in need of more rigorous statement.

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    File URL: http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol9/11/9-11.pdf
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    Bibliographic Info

    Article provided by Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany in its journal Demographic Research.

    Volume (Year): 9 (2003)
    Issue (Month): 11 (December)
    Pages: 263-284

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    Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:9:y:2003:i:11

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    Web page: http://www.demogr.mpg.de/

    Related research

    Keywords: demographic models; demographic theory; methodology; philosophy of science; population theory; the structure of demographic knowledge;

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    1. Francesco C. Billari & Alexia Prskawetz & Johannes Fürnkranz, 2002. "The cultural evolution of age-at-marriage norms," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2002-018, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
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