From methodological authoritarianism to epistemic realism: multidisciplinary research paradigms and the post-modern turn

Abstract

The 20th century was characterized by a radical paradigm shift from modernism to postmodernism. Postmodernism rejected the stances of objectivism, universalism and the construction of meta-narratives that were evident in the modern epoch. Postmodernism re-affirms subjectivism, perspectivism and particularism in knowledge attribution, acquisition and justification. Postmodernism therefore dethrones positivism, radical empiricism and all their objectivistic scientific edifices. Postmodernism also re-constructs a new archaeology of knowledge that situates both the knower and the known. This consequently gave rise to multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary critiques of knowledge distortions and the ontic injustices embedded in modern epistemologies and modes of knowledge. Post-modernism has its roots in postcolonialism, de-colonialism and the agitations for racial and gender justice. Postmodern epistemological ethos lead to the emergency of post-positivism in the natural sciences and interpretivism in the humanities and social sciences. Postmodernism propagates deconstructionist and emancipatory multi-disciplinary methodologies such as critical hermeneutics, critical discourse analysis, phenomenological interpretation, critical race theory and critical gender theory. This paper argues that multidisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are inevitable constellations of the eminent emergency of the postmodern epoch. The paper contends that postmodernism entrenches situated knowledge and multidisciplinary methodologies which are equally valid, reliable, cogent and credible.