A Changing Terrain of Knowledge and Power

A Social Epistemology of Educational Research

Bibliographic Data

ID9730869
AuthorsThomas S Popkewitz (0000-0002-5058-2235, University of Wisconsin–Madison, corresponding author)
Year1998
Volume34
Issuesup1
Pages21-56
Publication date1998-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePaedagogica Historica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-9230 • E-ISSN: 1477-674X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00309230.1998.11434876
OpenAlexW2192076650
LanguageEN
Citations received37
References cited89

In the past decade, important struggles about the production of knowledge have taken place in history, the social sciences, and education. These struggles involve more than the “knowledge interests” that Habermas pointed to in the 1970s; instead, they point to important epistemological ruptures in the doctrines of “reason” that have dominated social and political debates since the late 19th century. This questioning reaches into the presuppositions of progress and power underlying intellectual work. This article explores some of the main features of the controversies about knowledge by turning first to certain assumptions that guided social theory at least since the 19th century. The assumptions relate, for example, to the focus on human action (and agents) as purpose or explanation of theory, to the conceptualization of space and time, to the introduction of change as a problem of the administration of time (the control of process and development), and to the inscription of political and social doctrines of progress into science. My interest here, however, is not only in the disciplinary struggles, but also in the changing social conditions that make these debates possible. I look at the systems of reasoning in educational studies as social practices—what I have previously called “a social epistemology.” When we examine current discussions against 19th century assumptions about social theory, we are able to understand that the stakes of educational research are social and political as well as epistemological

Action (physics · Conceptualization · Critical theory · Discipline · Educational research · Epistemology · Geography · Knowledge level · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Presupposition · Research methodology · Social change · Social epistemology · Social science · Social theory · Sociology · Terrain · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Law · Philosophy · Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

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