Ethical realism before social constructionism

Tore Dag Bøe

doi:10.1177/09593543211004756

Abstract

In this article, I explore the idea that there is a fundamental ethical aspect that precedes social constructionism. I suggest that within social constructionism we can identify a development from seeing knowledge as socially constructed ( epistemological social constructionism) to seeing not only knowledge, but also corporeal ways of being as socially constructed ( ontological social constructionism). As a next step, I propose incorporating what I refer to as ethical realism in social constructionist perspectives. In the encounter with the other human being, I argue that there is a real ethical impulse that precedes social constructionism and puts it in motion. This impulse is real in the sense that it is neither constructed within, nor is it dependent upon, any particular social–cultural–historical context. In this paper I consider the ethical aspects of human encounters that allow for a constructionist epistemology and ontology to emerge in the first place. I make use of ideas from Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Rancière and consider how these thinkers are used in the work of Gert Biesta. The ideas are discussed in relation to findings from a previous study by the author and his colleagues exploring the experiences of adolescents taking part in mental health services.

Highlights

In this article, I explore the idea that there is a fundamental ethical aspect that precedes social constructionism
I suggest that we can find in social constructionism (e.g., Gergen, 2011; Shotter, 2011) the idea that we are formed within relations, contexts, and dialogues, all of which can be historical and cultural, and that in this way, we and our world are socially constructed
The study suggests that the dialogues in the network meetings facilitated by the mental health service seemed to affect the adolescents through what we identified as the epistemic aspect and the ontological aspect (Bøe et al, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

I explore the idea that there is a fundamental ethical aspect that precedes social constructionism. I suggest that we can find in social constructionism (e.g., Gergen, 2011; Shotter, 2011) the idea that we are formed within relations, contexts, and dialogues, all of which can be historical and cultural, and that in this way, we and our world are socially constructed.

Results

Conclusion