First, there is a critique of the "nomothetic" quest -- the idea that the social sciences should discover social laws. From Wordnik.com. [A crisis in sociology?] Reference
I believe the distinction by Wilhelm Dilthey between "nomothetic" (= positing laws) and "idiographic" (= describing individuals) sciences, is still much more fruitful than other approaches that tend to blur the dividing line. From Wordnik.com. [Demarcation, Demarcation, ….] Reference
Thus Windelband proposed that the natural sciences are nomothetic and the historical or cultural sciences ideographic. From Wordnik.com. [Wilhelm Dilthey] Reference
Dilthey rejects Windelband's distinction by showing that many natural sciences have ideographic elements and many human sciences such as linguistics and economics have nomothetic aims. From Wordnik.com. [Wilhelm Dilthey] Reference
It's also worth stating that one of the theoretical approaches associated with ethnographic research is an idiographic, rather than nomothetic, approach to data -- a concern with the particular, rather than the general. From Wordnik.com. [Anti Anti-Anecdotalism] Reference
On the one hand, Wilson has thus strengthened the Soviet element within "post-Soviet transitions" lending support to those researchers emphasizing the continued relevance of the ideographic element in †"as opposed to nomothetic approaches to â€" the study of contemporary Russia, Ukraine, etc. From Wordnik.com. [Understanding the Orange Revolution: Ukraine's Democratization in the Russian Mirror] Reference
Unlike the “nomothetic” knowledge that natural science seeks, what matters in historical science is not a universal law-like causality, but an understanding of the particular way in which an individual ascribes values to certain events and institutions or takes a position towards the general cultural values of his/her time under a unique, never-to-be-repeated constellation of historical circumstances. From Wordnik.com. [Asthmatic] Reference
Of course, I had to look up 'nomothetic'. From Wordnik.com. [Mind Hacks: Is psychology a science?] Reference
Two approaches can be complementary - idiographic can further develop a nomothetic law. From Wordnik.com. [Recently Uploaded Slideshows] Reference
Both can contribute to scientific approach - idiographic suited to description; nomothetic to predictions. From Wordnik.com. [Recently Uploaded Slideshows] Reference
Memory - case studies on how memory is affected by brain damage (Idiographic complemented nomothetic, furthering general laws). From Wordnik.com. [Recently Uploaded Slideshows] Reference
The Ballzheimer's cup first round must remain undecided, as both present maximal claims within their respective (nomothetic vs idiographic re: wars) approaches. From Wordnik.com. [le joueur prussien] Reference
According to Kant our reason itself is the final source of obligation, it obliges us of itself, it is nomothetic and autonomous, and the absolute form in which it commands us is the categorical imperative. From Wordnik.com. [The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy] Reference
To suppose that Solon contemplated and provided for the periodical revision of his laws by establishing a nomothetic jury or dicastery, such as that which we find in operation during the time of Demosthenes, would be at variance (in my judgment) with any reasonable estimate either of the man or of the age. From Wordnik.com. [The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 01] Reference
"post-Soviet transitions", lending support to those researchers emphasizing the continued relevance of the ideographic element in - as opposed to nomothetic approaches to - the study of contemporary Russia, Ukraine, etc. From Wordnik.com. [openDemocracy] Reference
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