Creative Social Research: Rethinking Theories and Methods and the Calling of an Ontological Epistemology of Participation

Abstract

Modern social research, as we know it now, emerged as a part of rise of modern social sciences in the context of transition to modernity. As an enterprise of modernity social research reflected some of the foundational assumptions of modernity. For example, the project of sociology was closely tied to the project of nation-state, embodying in its epistemology methodological nationalism. Social research also proceeded within the bounded logic of disciplines. But all these assumptions of modernity as well as their social manifestations have been subjected to fundamental criticisms and interrogations in the last decades. Both anti-systematic socio-cultural movements and critical discursive movements and new movements of ideas have challenged the modernist paradigms of pathology and normality as well as distinction between ontology and epistemology. In the background of critiques of modernity, social movements and processes of transformations the present essay submits some proposals for a creative and critical social research. It explores ways of moving beyond mere denunciations and critiques and embodying transformational theories and methods which would facilitate creative and critical research. The essay also calls for a new vocation of social research by pleading for a simultaneous engagement in activism and creative understanding, fieldwork and philosophical reflections, ontological self-cultivation and epistemic labour of learning.

Condicionantes regionales de la intervención socioeducativa: La soberanía alimentaria ante las reformas estatales

“…Se asumen así las críticas de (Gasché, 2004) sobre la necesidad de crear relaciones de largo plazo, y la propuesta de Giri (2006) de que el proceso de intervención transforme al propio investigador sin abandonar su reflexión crítica. Gasché destaca la imposibilidad de lograr un impacto adecuado y benéfico para los pueblos originarios mediante proyectos de intervención de corto plazo que desestiman el tiempo que tarda la formación de relaciones de confianza y la negociación de intereses con la población local.…”

Rethinking the Human and the Social: Towards a Multiverse of Transformations

“…Similarly ethics is not just acting in accordance with social conventions but acting in accordance with post-conventional awareness and realizations that, as Habermas says, conventional norms of society often turn out to be 'instances of problematic justice' (Habermas 1990: 108). Morality is not just obeying pre-given commands from either society or a benevolent dictator or a wise master but acting according to one's conscience (Giri 1998).…”

Sociology and Beyond: The Limits of Loyalty

“…a critical refl ection on some new modalities of interaction between parochial selves and hegemonic others, on the outside and inside must be worth the eff ort" (ibid.). Th is is indeed a key challenge, but addressing this is not only an epistemological task, it also calls for work on ontology exploring what may be called an 'ontological epistemology of participation' (Giri, 2005). In the spirit of the very important question that Arif has raised, it may be helpful to explore this pathway further.…”

“…A recent debate has arisen on the need for Indian social sciences to overcome their entrenched parochial fi xations and be simultaneously interested in fi eldwork at home and the world. Th e present writer had initiated such a dialogue as a response to an earlier essay on the subject by Ramachandra Guha (Giri, 2003;Guha, 2003). On the issue of our parochial fi xation, I had written: "Many of us from India now go to all parts of the world as students and teachers but how many of us are interested in carrying out study of other cultures and societies?…”