Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2015

Published In

Journal For The Theory Of Social Behaviour

Abstract

After decades of acrimonious debate on the nature of scientific knowledge, researchers in the human or social sciences are reaching a state of relative equanimity, a condition that may be characterized as a reflective pragmatism. Yet, even while the context has favored the development of new forms of research, the longstanding ocular metaphor of inquiry remains pervasive. That is, researchers continue the practice of observing what is the case, with the intent to illuminate, understand, report on, or furnish insight into given states of affairs. And, while selectively useful, such an orientation is not only limited in potential but subject to a receding span of application. As I will propose, when the logics of reflective pragmatism are fully extended, we enter a new territory of understanding, one in which the vision of research is radically altered. We replace the captivating gaze on the world as it is with value based explorations into what it could be. This conception of a future forming orientation to research opens the way to new aims, practices, and reflections.

Keywords

Social research, research methods, pragmatism, social knowledge, action research, liberation science

Comments

This work is a preprint freely available courtesy of the author.

The final publication version can be freely accessed courtesy of Wiley's Content Sharing service.

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