Abstract:
The early work of Bhaskar is critically evaluated as a possible philosophy of science
for psychology. His Critical Realism reacts against both positivism in natural science
and hermeneutics in psychosocial science. On the one hand, he proposed a
Transcendental Realism against Kant's Transcendental Idealism. The former aims to
avoid the epistemic fallacy and show how natural science is possible. On the other
hand, Bhaskar investigated the possibility of naturalism in social science but he
managed to merely strengthen a dualist ontology. A consistent Naturalist Realism
ought to account for both modes of reality. It should be based on a unitary ontology
and be able to show how epistemic access to both natural and psychosocial modes is
possible.
In the study, a brief overview is provided to the development of psychology's image
of science and how it is revealed in its struggle to unite science and practice. Its views
of science and measurement are labelled as positivistic and usually social
constructionism is considered as a viable alternative. An overview of positivism and
its roots in empiricism is provided along with a discussion of Gergen's social
constructionism. Scientific Realism, along with Semirealism, Minimal Realism and
Situational Realism are examined to establish the principles of realism informing a
Naturalist Realism. Before the viability of Bhaskar's philosophy of science for
psychology is considered as a way to negotiate between positivism and
constructionism, Kant's Transcendental Idealism is briefly discussed. Bhaskar's
Transcendental Realism, what was later called Critical Realism, is evaluated against
the Kantian implications for realism. The implications of a Naturalist Realism for
psychology as science is then examined. Harré's discursive view of psychology and
psychosocial reality provides a way of acknowledging the qualitative difference
between modes of reality while holding to a concept of one (or naturalist) ontology.
It is shown that discursivity is ontologically grounded making debate, argumentation
and criticism possible. In the case of science, discursivity becomes critical evaluation.
Causality underlies the possibility of experience in both natural and psychosocial
science. It is suggested that in the case of the latter meaning might have a causal
function. The limitations of Critical Realism as a philosophy of science for psychology
can be overcome by a Naturalist Realism by enabling a movement beyond opposing
perspectives prevalent in psychology's image of science and methodologies, such as
qualitative/quantitative and positivism/constructionism
