Shared Human Epistemic Phenomenology as the Basis for Psychological Inquiry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7146/irtp.v3i1.167370Keywords:
metapsychology, pluralism, phenomenology, truthAbstract
The idea of "theory as engagement," can provide a fruitful way to conceptualize the human social activity that is academic inquiry. Taking a phenomenological perspective, I will argue that there are assumptions that humans universally must make to survive and function in the world, and that reflecting on those that are epistemic can inform both the social activity of theorizing as well as the nature of the theories that are produced. After suggesting a candidate set of assumptions, their implications for both the content of psychological theories and the practice of theory development will be explored. The advantages for theories produced from doing so, along with complexities entailed, will be identified. Among the proposed benefits are avoiding the "anything goes" problem, "bootstrapping" the hermeneutic circle, managing pluralism, addressing global issues, and furthering a reinterpreted vocabulary for truth-related discourse.
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