Underlying all theories are philosophical presuppositions that lend themselves to different epistemological approaches, which need to be unfurled when comparing theories and offering alternative explanations. Contrary to Verheggen and Baerveldt's (2007) promulgation that 'enactivism' may be an adequate alternative for Wagner's social representation approach, this commentary outlines how this may be a misguided position.Enactivism, following an outward trajectory from nervous systems, to minds, to '(inter)action', to social enactivism, is incompatible with the dialogical epistemology underpinning social representations theory. Social representations are not reducible to individual minds, and dialogical interaction is not reducible to operationally closed 'systems' in (inter)action. The difference between the two approaches lies in the fundamental paradigmatic distinction between molar and molecular explanatory frameworks. Offering one as an alternative to the other overlooks the epistemological differences between the two and fails to appreciate the discrepancies between different levels of analysis, explanatory frameworks and the very phenomena that theories problematize. We Don't Share! The Social Representation Approach, Enactivism and the Fundamental Incompatibilities between the TwoAs Marková (1982) notes, underlying all theories (be they scientific or 'lay') are certain philosophical presuppositions, implicit or explicit, concerning the nature of 'man', the world and the interaction (or lack thereof) between the two. This is not to suggest there is a 'correct' and 'incorrect' way of studying psychological phenomena; rather, these presuppositions must be unfurled if one is to fully appreciate, and thus critique, the logic of any argument. Such philosophical assumptions Culture & Psychology
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.