Pragmatism and Pluralism as Methodological Alternatives to Monism, Reductionism and Universalism

Abstract

Both pragmatism and pluralism are considered as methodological alternatives to monism, reductionism and universalism, and also to methodological imperialism. First, a historical framework in Suppes ([1978] 1981) provides a precedent for the current emphasis on methodological pluralism, while methodological pragmatism, which is explicit from Rescher (1977), has often had supporters, with greater or lesser intensity and conceived from different epistemological angles. From the 1980’s to the initial years of this century, there has been a renewed interest in methodological pragmatism and pluralism, particularly since 2006. Second, there is a thematic view, which is focused on the central tenets of pragmatism and pluralism to outline their consequences for scientific research as alternative to the influential conceptions mentioned. The emphasis on practice, which leads to efficacy in realizing the collective goals of research, and the recognition of the diversity in scientific research, which is in tune with the polyhedral character of reality (natural, social and artificial) and its ontological levels (micro, meso, macro), contribute to the methodology of science in its twofold condition of analytical and prescriptive (in the sense of indicative patterns). Third, the structure and origin of this book is presented in connection with the previous steps.KeywordsPragmatismPluralismMethodologicalAlternativesMonismReductionismUniversalism