Ethnography and sister sciences: Why refuse assistance? A reply to Weeks

Social scientists (most recently John Weeks) tend to reply to arguments abo ut epistemological difficulties for belief ascription with two responses. A n epistemological response goes: Behavioral evidence for underlying beliefs 'is all we have and all we need'. A metaphysical response argues that beli efs, being merely instrumental entities are not really subject to worries a bout underdetermination. In this article, I argue that these responses are inadequate, and that social science practice can be greatly improved by inc orporating cognitive-science constraints into the practice of ascribing bel iefs.