Ontology and epistemology in the philosophy of social science

Introduction

Key terms: science philosophy, ontology, epistemology, introductory course, relevant for students in all PhD phases.

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All research relies on assumptions about what exists in the world (ontology) and how that existence can be known (epistemology). Becoming aware of these dimensions does not only have philosophical value, but also practical relevance for how research is designed and interpreted.

Specifically, understanding ontology and epistemology will help you engage with the deep theoretical significance of your own research and other people’s work. In addition, these notions shape your methodology, influencing your perspective on the kinds of data you see as meaningful and how you think data should be analysed properly. Ontological and epistemological awareness will also help ensuring consistency between your tacit research positions and the overall design of your study.

In this course, you can learn about key ontological and epistemological themes through a combination of lectures and workshops. We will focus on two central debates (structure/agency; material/ideational) and their intersection which speak to how social contexts and conducts are shaped by and within material and meaning systems. 

We will use the literature on variegated neoliberalisation as a shared reference point to illustrate these abstract debates. During the workshop sessions, you will be encouraged to apply and situate these perspectives in relation to your own research.
 

Entry level and relevance

This course is introductory in nature and does not require any prior knowledge of ontology or epistemology.
It is relevant to PhD candidates across all disciplines within the social sciences and humanities.

While the course can be valuable at any stage of the PhD journey, it is particularly beneficial to take it early in your trajectory. Engaging with the foundational concepts of ontology and epistemology at an early stage allows you to reflect on them when designing and writing up your research.

Relations with other courses

This course does not have significant overlap with other EGSH courses. We do have one other philosophy course, Philosophising your research, but the latter course has a stronger focus on methodology. If you are unsure which course better suits your needs, feel free to contact the lecturer for guidance.

In addition, this course serves as a complement to the many EGSH courses that explain the application of empirical research methods. By strengthening your understanding of ontology and epistemology, you will be better equipped to design and justify your research methodology.

You may choose to take this course either before or after any of the methods courses. However, as noted, it is generally advisable to engage with ontological and epistemological foundations early in your PhD journey, as doing so can inform key decisions about your research design.

Sessions and preparations

Day 1: Variegated neoliberalisation, ontology and epistemology
We will first focus on how the concepts of ontology and epistemology have been used and portrayed in problematic ways in various literatures in the social sciences, and discuss the exact meaning of these concepts and their implications on research. We will subsequently discuss the literature on “variegated neoliberalisations”, before situating this work in ontological and epistemological debates.
Preparations consist of reading literature.

Day 2: Structure and agency debates
On the second day of the course, we will focus on important and classic contributions in the ontological debates on structure and agency. Students will be invited to situate these notions in their own research.
Preparations consist of reading literature.

Day 3: Material and ideational debates
The third day is about the second main ontological debate, which is divided between material and ideational perspectives. Students will be invited to situate these positions in their own research.
Preparations consist of reading literature.

Day 4: Implications for your own research
On the last day of the course, students will be invited to integrate the two ontological debates (and their corresponding epistemology) into their own research.