It’s a rejection of metaphysics (abstract truths, nature of

existence etc.)

It is a position that holds that the goal of knowledge is

simply to describe the phenomena that we experience.

Positivism

Positivism is the philosophy of science that information

derived from logical and mathematical treatments and

reports of sensory experience is the exclusive source of

all authoritative knowledge.

Positivism

Verified data received from the senses is known as

empirical evidence.

Positivism

Positivism holds that society, like the physical world,

operates according to general laws. Introspective and

intuitive knowledge is rejected.

Positivism

Although the positivist approach has been a recurrent

theme in the history of western thought, the modern

sense of the approach was developed by the

philosopher and founding sociologist Auguste Comte in

the early 19th century. Comte argued that, much as the

physical world operates according to gravity and other

absolute laws, so also does society.

Positivism

Positivists hold that since the purpose of science is

simply to stick to what we can observe and measure,

knowledge of anything beyond that is impossible.

The world and the universe are operated by laws of

cause and effect.

Positivism

The positivists believed in empiricism – the idea that

observation and measurement was the core of the scientific

endeavor.

That the key approach of the scientific method is the

experiment, the attempt to discern natural laws through direct

manipulation and observation.

A strong form of empiricism, esp as established in the

philosophical system of Comte, that rejects metaphysics and

theology as seeking knowledge beyond the scope of

experience, and holds that experimental investigation and

observation are the only sources of substantial knowledge.

Positivism

Positivism

Positivism is a way of thinking

developed by Auguste Comte

and is based on the

assumption that it is possible

to observe social life and

establish reliable, valid

knowledge about how it works.

This knowledge can then be

used to affect the course of

social change and improve the

human condition.

Positivism also argues that social life should be built in a rigid, linear, and methodical way on a base of verifiable fact. It has had relatively little influence on contemporary sociology, however, because it is argued that it encourages a misleading emphasis on superficial facts without any attention to underlying mechanisms that cannot be observed.

Post-positivism is not just slight adjustment to or

revision of the positivist position.

It is a wholesale rejection of the central tenets of

positivism.

Positivism & Post Positivism

One of the most common forms of post-positivism is a

philosophy called critical realism. A critical realist

believes that there is a reality independent of our

thinking about it that science can study.

Post-positivism

Positivists were also realists. The difference is

that the post-positivist critical realist recognizes

that all observation is fallible and has error and

that all theory is revisable. In other words, the

critical realist is critical of our ability to know

reality with certainty.

Post-positivism

The post-positivist emphasizes the importanceof multiple measures and observations, each ofwhich may possess different types of error, andthe need to use triangulation across thesemultiple erroneous sources to try to get a betterbead on what's happening in reality.

Post-positivism

Most post-positivists are constructivists whobelieve that we each construct our view of theworld based on our perceptions of it. Becauseperception and observation is fallible, ourconstructions must be imperfect.

Post-positivism

Positivists believed that objectivity was acharacteristic that resided in the individualscientist. Scientists are responsible for puttingaside their biases and beliefs and seeing theworld as it 'really' is. Post-positivists reject theidea that any individual can see the worldperfectly as it really is. We are all biased and allof our observations are affected (theory-laden).

Post-positivists on objectivity

Our best hope for achieving objectivity is to triangulate

across multiple fallible perspectives! Thus, objectivity is not

the characteristic of an individual, it is inherently a social

phenomenon. It is what multiple individuals are trying to

achieve when they criticize each other's work. We never

achieve objectivity perfectly, but we can approach it. The

best way for us to improve the objectivity of what we do is

to do it within the context of a broader contentious

community of truth-seekers (including other scientists) who

criticize each other's work.

Post-positivists on objectivity

We never achieve objectivity perfectly, but wecan approach it. The best way for us to improvethe objectivity of what we do is to do it withinthe context of a broader contentiouscommunity of truth-seekers (including otherscientists) who criticize each other's work.

Post-positivists on objectivity