Anchoring depth ontology to epistemological strategies of field theory

Exploring the possibility for developing a core for sociological analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID21159707
AuthorsSourabh Singh (0000-0002-9636-994X, Department of Sociology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, USA, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume17
Issue5
Pages429-448
Publication date2018-10-20
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Critical Realism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-7430 • E-ISSN: 1572-5138
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14767430.2018.1540384
OpenAlexW2901675897
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

Critical realism's insight into depth ontology creates the possibility for re-imagining sociology as a science of the social world. However, critical realism has yet to gain a strong foothold in sociological analysis. Challenging the available criticism of critical realism, I argue that its main flaw is its inability to draw an appropriate epistemological strategy from its insights into depth ontology. I propose that this limitation can be overcome when we anchor the depth ontology of critical realism to the two-step epistemological strategies of Bourdieu's field theory: first, objectifying common sense to develop a scientific model of social structure; and second, objectifying the scientific point of view to re-introduce common sense in the scientific model of social structure. I argue that by anchoring the ontological insights of critical realism to the epistemological strategies of field theory, we can create the long-sought core around which sociology can progress as a science of the social world

Critical theory · Criticism · Epistemology · Ontology · Realism · Scientific realism · Social reality · Sociological theory · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Critical Realism in Sociology · Philosophy · Social and Cultural Dynamics