Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

Implications for the Purpose of Scholarship in Social Science in Light of Critical Realism

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

A. Zarei Dehbaghi 1
S. Zarghami Hamrah 2
Y. Ghaedi 2
Kh. Bagheri Noaparast 3

1 PhD in Philosophy of Education, Department of Philosophy of Educations, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor in Philosophy of Education, Department of Philosophy of Educations, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor in Social philosophical foundations, Faculty of Philosophy of Education. University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22631/isih.2017.1417
Abstract
The aim of this description-inductive study, is to draw forth implications for the purposes of scholarship in the social science based on critical realism with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. Critical realism, from an epistemological insight, is seen as the basis for scholarship references (teaching, research, application and integration) in social science. The results of this research indicate that critical realism, with its emphasis on mind-independent reality and the nature of the criticism of knowledge, focuses on an emancipator training in social science. In research, critical realism stresses philosophy and philosophical self-awareness. Therefore, social science researchers understand the hidden assumptions and outright lies in their own research better. In the field of integration, the emphasis is on understanding the reality on a large scale. Therefore, it recognizes the interdisciplinary science of knowledge and welcomes every science that can better explain and interpret the complex layers of reality. Thus, critical realism, in practice, has the potential to solve social problems thru its perspective on the science of integration. The reason for this is theorizing far from narrow-mindedness while, at the same time, in harmony with the critical realism. This is due to its critical nature which brings knowledge closer to practice.

Keywords

critical realism
social science
scholarships
interdisciplinary studies

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 19 August 2015
  • Revise Date 20 June 2017
  • Accept Date 13 February 2016

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