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Dialogue
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Read and translate the following dialogue:
Can the study of politics be scientific?
| A. | Pleased to meet you, Brain. You know, it is widely accepted that the study of politics should be scientific, but can it use the methodology of the natural sciences? Will you clarify the matter for me? |
| B. | Hi, Alex. Sure, I'll try to. The attraction of a science of politics is clear. It promises to give us access to objective knowledge about the political world. However, any attempt to construct a science of politics must face three difficulties. |
| A. | I take your point. Let me guess. Firstly, there is a problem of data. In the absence of exact data, we have no reliable means of testing human behavior as we cannot get 'inside' a human being. |
| B. | Oh, definitely. Second, there are difficulties connected with the existence of hidden values. |
| A. | Sure. We must bear in mind that this is because models and theories of politics are constructed on the basis of assumptions about human nature. |
| B. | Fair enough. And about human society, the role of the state and so on that have hidden political and ideological implications. |
| A. | Yes, of course. I remember you have mentioned three issues. |
| B. | That's right. Third, there is the myth of neutrality in the social sciences. Whereas natural scientists may be able to approach their studies in an objective, this is difficult and perhaps impossible to achieve in politics. |
| A. | Does it mean that scientific objectivity, in the sense of absolute neutrality, must always remain an unachievable goal in political analysis? |
| B. | Indeed, it's still necessary to establish that politics is a valuable activity. And this brings me to my last point. You see, politics is defined, it addresses questions relating to the structure and functioning of the society in which we live and have grown up. The study of politics is bound to be scientific in a stricter sense. |
| A. | Thank you for clarifying the matter for me. |
| B. | Er, yes, Well, thank you for listening. |
Task 1. Report the dialogue. Use the following reporting verbs:
| Ø to acknowledge that | Ø to explain that |
| Ø to surmise that | Ø to find out if/whether |
| Ø to admit | Ø to guess if/whether |
| Ø to conclude | Ø to indicate that |
| Ø to estimate that | Ø to mean |
| Ø to state | Ø to recommend |
Task 2. Work with a partner. Look at the dialogue and discuss what A. and B. say about the following subjects.
a. the attraction of a science of politics
b. the absence of exact data in research
c. the existence of hidden values in politics
d. the myth of neutrality in the social sciences
Task 3. Do it in English:
1. изучение политики должно быть научно-обоснованным
2. привлекательность политической науки
3. доступ к объективным знаниям
4. встретиться лицом к лицу с тремя проблемами
5. позволь мне угадать
6. отсутствие точных данных
7. надежные способы тестирования поведения человека
8. существование скрытых ценностей
9. на основе предположений по поводу сути человеческой природы
10. скрытые политические и идеологические намеки
11. нейтралитет в общественных науках
12. достигать цели в своих исследованиях
13. научная объективность
14. недостижимая цель
15. суть политики определена
16. обращаться к вопросам, относящимся к структуре и функционированию общества
Task 4. Read the following supporting materials and get ready to analyze and discuss the given information.