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Methodological pluralism is advocated in this book, which takes students on an investigative tour of uncertainty in the social sciences, with particular emphasis on the "scientific" response to uncertainty. Much of the material is drawn from the disciplines of international relations and politics. It is believed that what is true of one social science discipline is epistemologically largely true of other disciplines. This thesis arose out of the author's personal history as one trained intensively in behaviouralism and British linguistic philosophy. While rejecting the positivistic scientific approach, an empiricist approach to social science is maintained which accepts the tentative and contentious nature of knowledge, but which stops short of complete acceptance of anti-foundationalist positions.