Realism in Archaeology – A Philosophical Perspective
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Matti Sintonen
Abstract
The article addresses the methodological debate within archaeology over its self-understanding and cognitive profile. Is archaeology an interpretative humanities discipline or rather a natural science? More specifically, should it view the human past as an expression of (series of) essentially symbolic human strivings or should it rather turn to the exact sciences for a model? The paper portrays inquiry in general and in archaeology specifically in terms of questions and answers. The fundamental idea is that the big research questions proposed by archaeologists fall squarely within the humanities. However, when searching for answers it uses an increasingly wide variety of methods, models and tools from the natural sciences. The paper also addresses fundamental epistemological, methodological and ontological issues over the credentials and nature of our knowledge of the past. How do archaeologists who are often inclined to adopt a realist stance towards the human past deal with the variety of constructivist challenges? How do values and non-epistemic considerations enter the scene? To count as a respectable science is archaeology forced to maintain that facts should be allowed to speak for themselves? And what can and should count as a fact? What would it mean to make things talk? The article ends with a brief note on the nature of archaeology as a discipline or interdiscipline, and on how it aspires to go beyond brute physical and behavioral facts.
Abstract
The article addresses the methodological debate within archaeology over its self-understanding and cognitive profile. Is archaeology an interpretative humanities discipline or rather a natural science? More specifically, should it view the human past as an expression of (series of) essentially symbolic human strivings or should it rather turn to the exact sciences for a model? The paper portrays inquiry in general and in archaeology specifically in terms of questions and answers. The fundamental idea is that the big research questions proposed by archaeologists fall squarely within the humanities. However, when searching for answers it uses an increasingly wide variety of methods, models and tools from the natural sciences. The paper also addresses fundamental epistemological, methodological and ontological issues over the credentials and nature of our knowledge of the past. How do archaeologists who are often inclined to adopt a realist stance towards the human past deal with the variety of constructivist challenges? How do values and non-epistemic considerations enter the scene? To count as a respectable science is archaeology forced to maintain that facts should be allowed to speak for themselves? And what can and should count as a fact? What would it mean to make things talk? The article ends with a brief note on the nature of archaeology as a discipline or interdiscipline, and on how it aspires to go beyond brute physical and behavioral facts.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Novelty in Scientific Realism: New Approaches to an Ongoing Debate 1
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I New Framework for the Realism and Anti-realism Debate
- Scientific Realism: What’s All the Fuss? 27
- Scientific Realism and Three Problems for Inference to the Best Explanation 48
- Scientific Realism and the Conflict with Common Sense 68
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II Approaches based on History and Scientific Realism
- Evolving Realities: Scientific Prediction and Objectivity from the Perspective of Historical Epistemology 87
- Do Cognitive Illusions Make Scientific Realism Deceptively Attractive? 104
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III Logical Approaches in Realist Terms
- Against Paraconsistentism 133
- Stratified Nomic Realism 145
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IV Logico-Epistemological Structural Realism and Instrumental Realism
- Structural Realism: The Only Defensible Realist Game in Town? 169
- Mathematical Language and the Changing Concept of Physical Reality 206
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V New Developments on Critical Scientific Realism and Pragmatic Realism
- Interdisciplinarity from the Perspective of Critical Scientific Realism 231
- Pragmatic Realism and Scientific Prediction: The Role of Complexity 251
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VI Realism on Causality and Representation
- Realism and AIM (Action, Intervention, Manipulation) Theories of Causality 291
- Is Physics Biased Against Alternative Possibilities? 305
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VII Realist Accounts on Objectivity and Facts
- Realistic Components in the Conception of Pragmatic Idealism: The Role of Objectivity and the Notion of “Fact” 331
- “Heard Enough from the Experts”? A Popperian Enquiry 348
- Realism in Archaeology – A Philosophical Perspective 365
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VIII Realism and the Social World: From Social Sciences to the Sciences of the Artificial
- A Structural Realist Approach to International Relations Theory 391
- Objectivity and Truth in Sciences of Communication and the Case of the Internet 415
- Index of Names 437
- Subject Index 447
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Novelty in Scientific Realism: New Approaches to an Ongoing Debate 1
-
I New Framework for the Realism and Anti-realism Debate
- Scientific Realism: What’s All the Fuss? 27
- Scientific Realism and Three Problems for Inference to the Best Explanation 48
- Scientific Realism and the Conflict with Common Sense 68
-
II Approaches based on History and Scientific Realism
- Evolving Realities: Scientific Prediction and Objectivity from the Perspective of Historical Epistemology 87
- Do Cognitive Illusions Make Scientific Realism Deceptively Attractive? 104
-
III Logical Approaches in Realist Terms
- Against Paraconsistentism 133
- Stratified Nomic Realism 145
-
IV Logico-Epistemological Structural Realism and Instrumental Realism
- Structural Realism: The Only Defensible Realist Game in Town? 169
- Mathematical Language and the Changing Concept of Physical Reality 206
-
V New Developments on Critical Scientific Realism and Pragmatic Realism
- Interdisciplinarity from the Perspective of Critical Scientific Realism 231
- Pragmatic Realism and Scientific Prediction: The Role of Complexity 251
-
VI Realism on Causality and Representation
- Realism and AIM (Action, Intervention, Manipulation) Theories of Causality 291
- Is Physics Biased Against Alternative Possibilities? 305
-
VII Realist Accounts on Objectivity and Facts
- Realistic Components in the Conception of Pragmatic Idealism: The Role of Objectivity and the Notion of “Fact” 331
- “Heard Enough from the Experts”? A Popperian Enquiry 348
- Realism in Archaeology – A Philosophical Perspective 365
-
VIII Realism and the Social World: From Social Sciences to the Sciences of the Artificial
- A Structural Realist Approach to International Relations Theory 391
- Objectivity and Truth in Sciences of Communication and the Case of the Internet 415
- Index of Names 437
- Subject Index 447
