(Re)conceptualizations: Intentional concept development in the social sciences

Abstract

Can intentional concept development in the social sciences be understood in terms of conceptual engineering (CE)? To answer this question, I analyze various types of conceptual changes in the social changes-with a special attention to organizational research and the so-called (re)conceptualizations-and distinguish between CE as a theoretical practice and CE as a research program. I show that social scientists, from the point of view of their scientific practice, exercise CE in two versions: CE de novo is employed as new conceptualizations and moderately progressive CE-as reconceptualizations. Importantly, the second type of CE-rather neglected in philosophy of the social sciences-appears to be highly important for the incremental progress of inquiry. Still, both types appear to be equally significant also for CE understood as a research program and for its prospects in the social sciences. Here, I point to three possible paths that help bridging the gap between actual practices of concept development in the social sciences and normative, programmatic approaches to CE: best practice recommendations, institutional actions and uses of AI-agents.