Abstract: The issue concerning philosophy of social sciences and its methodology is only the focus of current theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy. It also has become an intellectual platform and a workplace for cross-discipline practice. It can be traced back to the distinction, as well as the connection, between the explanation and understanding, in Neo-Kantianism, which goes through the issue of methodology of social sciences from beginning to end. This structure also forms a contrast with causal research pattern and normative research pattern in current philosophical discussions of social sciences. If practical reasoning is the hub and axis that runs through the history from Aristotle's practical philosophy to philosophy of action in Wittgenstein and his disciples, normative reasons, as well as an independent and self-sufficient concept of norm, seems to direct recent debates on philosophy of social sciences. In order to create an important opportunity to restart, philosophy of social sciences and its methodology in the Chinese context should face the multi-dimensional intellectual ecology of current methodology of social sciences that shows objectivity, normativity and complexity on the one hand and stick to the practical approach of action analysis based on the concept of "rationality" and case orientation on the other.

Key words: social sciences, philosophy, methodology