Ontology, methodological individualism, and the foundations of the social sciences

This is a review essay, based on a critical assessment of The Ant Trap by Brian Epstein. Epstein argues that models in the social sciences are inadequate because they are based on a false ontology of methodological individualism, and proposes a new model of social ontology. I examine this model and point to flaws in it. More generally, I argue against Epstein’s methodological approach, which treats social ontology as prior to social scientific modelling and as certifying the ‘building blocks’ that modellers then use. I argue that modellers can legitimately shape the building blocks for their own models.