Beyond Description to Pattern

The Contribution of Batesonian Epistemology to Critical Realist Research

Bibliographic Data

ID21159530
AuthorsChris Dalton (0000-0003-2007-6507, University of Reading, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume13
Issue2
Pages163-182
Publication date2014-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Critical Realism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-7430 • E-ISSN: 1572-5138
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1179/1476743014z.00000000022
OpenAlexW1599212991
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited20

This paper proposes a limitation to epistemological claims to theory building prevalent in critical realist research. While accepting the basic ontological and epistemological positions of the perspective as developed by Roy Bhaskar, it is argued that application in social science has relied on sociological concepts to explain the underlying generative mechanisms, and that in many cases this has been subject to the effects of an anthropocentric constraint. A novel contribution to critical realist research comes from the work and ideas of Gregory Bateson. This is in service of two central goals of critical realism, namely an abductive route to theory building and a commitment to interdisciplinarity. Five aspects of Bateson’s epistemology are introduced: (1) difference, (2) logical levels of abstraction, (3) recursive causal loops, (4) the logic of metaphor, and (5) Bateson’s theory of mind. The comparison between Bateson and Bhaskar’s ideas is seen as a form of double description, illustrative of the point being raised. The paper concludes with an appeal to critical realists to start exploring the writing and outlook of Bateson himself

Cognitive science · Epistemology · Computer Science · Philosophy · Psychology · Semantic Web and Ontologies

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub