Understanding Human Life

Courgeau Daniel is Director of Research Emeritus at the National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED). From twenty years his research interests are mainly focussed on the methodology and epistemology of social science. He has published three books on this theme and many other papers and book chapters in journals and books.

“This fascinating and wide-ranging work pursues a pragmatic objective for social science researchers: identifying the principles underlying a scientific approach to human lives. … this volume, recently published in Springer’s Methodos series, is an invitation to open-mindedness and methodological ambition.” (Eva Lelièvre, Population, Vol. 78 (2), 2023)Overall, Understanding Human Life is an accomplished book, different parts of which can serve many readers very well: From providing stimulating discussion material for students, through inspiring researchers to critically consider various methodological approaches to analysing human life, to situating many features of demographic and social science thinking in historical and philosophical context. This is not necessarily a book to break new grounds with innovative research findings. It is, however, an erudite, interdisciplinary, and pedagogical volume, well worth reading and thinking about. With its surprising insights, it offers a rare broadpicture perspective. This can only come from the scientific experience of someone who—like the author—was already at the forefront of demographic innovation throughout his career.“Jakub Bijak, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.“

• Chapter 1. Understanding and misunderstanding human life.- Part I: How certain approaches may lead to misunderstanding human life.- Chapter 2. Predestination versus human liberty.- Chapter 3. Astronomy and astrology: once indistinguishable, now clearly separate.- Chapter 4. Eugenics and the theory of inheritability.- Chapter 5. Why and how to restrict freedom.- Part II: What can one capture of a human life, and how?.- Chapter 6. Imaginary life stories to forge and nourish our minds.- Chapter 7. Real-life stories to study or celebrate humans.- Chapter 8. Autobiographical memory and its critics.- Chapter 9. Mechanisms, systems, autonomy, hermeneutics and understanding human life.