Evidence-based social science: why, what, and future implications

Abstract

Mankind has always relied on “practical wisdom” in the sense of Aristotle to change people and society. However, practical wisdom is difficult to accumulate and pass on from generation to generation. Therefore, although “natural engineering” that is consistent with “natural technology” can be used effectively to transform the natural world, using “practical wisdom” to change people and society remains difficult. Solving this dilemma requires an effective means to separate “social science”, “social technology”, and “social engineering” to accumulate and inherit “knowledge of changing people and society” similar to other types of scientific knowledge. Today, the prevailing evidence-based social science is the opposition and unity of laws of nature and free will, truth-seeking and goodness-pursuing, individual wisdom and collective wisdom, autonomy and supervision, the universal and the special in practice. The emergence of this concept allows for the possibility to enhance the effectiveness of social science practice.