Ma`rifat Farhangi Ejtemaei

Methodology is considered to be among the fundamental issues of social science. This issue plays an important role in developing social science, understanding social theories and judgment them. The importance of this issue has led to constant methodological controversies in social science, including methodological interpretative and explanatory, individualistic and collectivistic controversies. This paper seeks to answer the question concerning the way the social commentary of al-Mizan regards valid for social scinence. Does Al-Mizan emphasize only the empirical method in social science? Does it take an individualistic or a collectivist approach in social science? What is the position of understanding and explanation in the methodology of al-Mizan? Using a descriptive - analytical method and the al-Mizan approach, the present paper answers the question regarding the acquisition of knowledge in social science in three levels. In this approach, empirical method does not suffice for social science; rather, both rational and intuitive methods are needed, and in addition to a valid empirical method, a pluralistic approach and the methodological explanation of individualism and collectivism, the application of an explanatory and understanding method in social science is necessary.