194
Critical Realism, Critical Theory and Pragmatism: United in Struggle?
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC16 Sociological Theory (host committee)
Language: English
Session Type: Oral
Critical Realism, Critical Theory and Pragmatism: United in Struggle?
Sometimes, critical realism, critical theory and pragmatism are seen as opponents. A closer look, however, reveals that with the end of the “science wars” the positions have shifted. Within American and French pragmatism, there are more realist strands that analyse long-term processes and large-scale systems. Similarly, within realism and critical theory, there’s space for micro-sociology and more fieldwork. Thanks to a consequent rethinking of the “ontological turn” and the “practice turn” within social theory, the opposition between realism and constructivism can be overcome. Structure, processes and practices are not incompatible, but refer to different aspects of the same reality. To avoid drifting off into scholastic debates, this session will privilege papers that tackle real questions, like climate change, terrorism or fake news, or other substantive topics, like interiority, intersubjectivity and democracy, that open up the way for creative and constructive exchanges between realism and pragmatism, social theory and fieldwork, critique and reconstruction.