The social-psychology-as-history thesis is reexamined in light of recent arguments. No valid arguments have been ad vanced which would fundamentally distinguish the social and natural sciences. At best, the history thesis has more bearing on the utility of universal generalizations than it does on their exis tence ; prematurely judging this issue by fiat could lead to such :onsequences as abandoning theory construction and the search for any type of explanation.
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