070901P - EPISTEMOLOGY OF SOCIAL and HUMAN SCIENCES

Outline for discussion at a Workshop on Epistemology held at Dhaka on September 1, 2007 by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Epidemiology and Islamic Medicine University Brunei and Visiting Professor of Epidemiology University Malaya

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Social sciences are intimately involved in social engineering although they play a secondary role to physical sciences that are trend setters. These sciences reflect the world view of societies in which they were developed. They therefore carry inherent biases that have to be identified and removed to end up with objective sciences.

2.0 SOCIOLOGY

2.1 Definition and classification

2.2 Historical development

2.3 Research Methods

2.4 Islamic Epistemological critique of basic concepts and paradigms

2.5 Islamic Epistemological introduction to the discipline

2.6 Application to societal problems

3.0 PSYCHOLOGY

3.1 Definition and classification

3.2 Historical development

3.3 Research Methods

3.4 Islamic Epistemological critique of basic concepts and paradigms

3.5 Islamic Epistemological introduction to the discipline

3.6 Application to societal problems

4.0 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

4.1 Definition and classification

4.2 Historical development

4.3 Research Methods

4.4 Islamic Epistemological critique of basic concepts and paradigms

4.5 Islamic Epistemological introduction to the discipline

4.6 Application to societal problems

5.0 HISTORY

5.1 Definition and classification

5.2 Historical development

5.3 Research Methods

5.4 Islamic Epistemological critique of basic concepts and paradigms

5.5 Islamic Epistemological introduction to the discipline

5.6 Application to societal problems