Critical realism Some essential features Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism

Realism … is a name of different philosophical standpoints that emphasises a reality independent of the human mind Empirical realism: Reality is constrained to the observable Critical realism: Reality consists of the observable and a more deep or complex level, which science is meant to uncover Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 2

Essence “Essentialism” has been used as a term to describe and criticise what have been seen as problematic categorisations of people (“gender”, “race” ertcetera), where the “social” has been made “essential”/”natural”. In critical realism “essence” means something else. Essence = what something is at a certain point in time and space Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 3

The function of theory in realism In Empirical realism: Describing In Critical realism: Explaining. The goal is to identify the causal mechanisms of the object Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 4

The intransitive and the transitive Science has two dimensions – The intransitive: The object of scientific knowledge. Primary qualities. Ontology – The transitive: Theories that connects science with reality. Secondary qualities. Epistemology Ontology: Realist Epistemology: Relativist Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 5

Three domains of reality Domain of Real Domain of Actual Domain of Empirical MechanismsX EventsXX ExperiencesXXX Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 6

The concrete versus the abstract I Abstraction is a core part of critical realism Abstract versus concrete IS NOT about… – … more or less real. Compare “gender” to “gravitation”: they are both real but experienced through their consequences. – … covering reality Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 7

The concrete versus the abstract II Abstract versus concrete IS about… – … lifting out, abstract, something from experiences/observations/empirical results – … isolation of certain constitutive aspects –... trying to see the nature of the object, it’s essence Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 8

Structure Domain of the real – Mechanisms – Causal links – Structures = relations Structures exists: are real and relational Structures are a constitutive for the objects Structures are a bunch of internally related objects that makes an object what it is (socially or naturally) Structures work on all levels, macro and micro Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 9

Different kinds of structures Substantial relations Have real connections Formal relations Have no real connections, but common caracteristics Internal relations Necessary. The object(s) would not be the same without the relation External relations Temporary relations Symmetrical internal relation Dominans, power Non- symmetrical internal relation Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 10

Materialism in critical realism Theory must always relate to the concrete: – Concrete  abstract, abstract  concrete The concrete = empirical results = the material Structures are something real, real relations – Have material consequences – Not to be seen, but to be experienced Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 11

Niililouto: different kinds of realisms Onthology: What is real? Is there a mind- independent world? Semantics: Is truth an objective language-world relation? Epistemology: Is knowledge about the world possible? Axiology: Is truth one of the aims of enquiry? Methodology: What are the best methods for pursuing knowledge? Ethics: Do moral values exist in reality? Anna Morvall, Tema T Critical realism 12