For Pragmatist Social Theory: Causal Depth and the Possibility of Solving Social Problems

What does it mean to solve social problems? The concept of causal depth raises a methodological problem for the current account of problem-solving sociology. This is because, if the goal of inquiry is to track resolutions to fundamental social problems (i.e. problems that have never been solved), then the priority ought to be knowledge of how to address their root causes. Because it seems unlikely that all the causal knowledge connected to a problem necessarily tracks its resolution, we need a methodological strategy for orienting research toward root causes. Consequently, causal depth challenges sociological theorists to recognize that problematics—that is, the problem of defining problems—are an integral part of inquiry and methods, just as a general kind of theory is needed to complement or counterbalance middle-range theory. Toward this end, I advocate for a pragmatist recuperation of social theory.