Abstract
This chapter explains that the book is written from a critical realist perspective, a philosophy which fits the author’s own naïve sense of reality. It explains that the approach taken in this volume is very different from that presented in mainstream work on written composition, and that understanding the realist perspective is crucial to understanding why the modelling took place (i.e. to understand the nature of writing) and why it took this particular form (i.e. as describing an observable process, an “event” in Bhaskar’s ontology). It also points out that what is axiomatic in one paradigm is often a fallacy in another. As the problem of agency is considered problematic in critical realism, and composing is a social process carried out by human agency, the chapter suggests that the author has made some contribution to the field in suggesting a distinction between “intentional” and “contingent” determination, and in pioneering the use of the “conceptual mechanism” as educational tool. This will, however, be discussed in the next chapter, Chapter 3, which explores the key critical realist concept “mechanism” in more detail.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Archer, M.S. (1998) Introduction: realism in the social sciences. In M.S. Archer et al. (eds.) Critical realism: essential readings. London: Routledge.
Archer, M.S. (2002) Realism and the problem of agency. Journal of Critical Realism 5(1):11–20.
Baëhr, P. (1990) Review article: critical realism, cautionary realism. Sociological Review 38(4):765–778.
Bereiter, C. & Scardamalia, M. (1985) Cognitive coping strategies and the problem of “inert knowledge”. In S.S. Chipman, J.W. Segal & R. Glaser (eds.) Thinking and learning skills: research and open questions, Vol. 2. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Bhaskar, R. (1978) A realist theory of science. Hassocks: Harvester Press.
Bhaskar, R. (1979) The possibility of naturalism: a philosophical critique of the contemporary human sciences. Brighton: Harvester Press.
Bhaskar, R. (1986) Scientific realism and human emancipation. London: Verso.
Bhaskar, R. (1989) Reclaiming reality: a critical introduction to philosophy. London: Verso.
Bhaskar, R. (1994) Plato etc.: the problems of philosophy and their resolution. London: Verso.
Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (eds.) (2005) Handbook of qualitative research (3rd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Fairclough, N. (2005) Global Capitalism and Critical Awareness of Language. http://www.schools.ash.org.au/lit/web/norman1.html (11 June 2005).
Fleetwood, S. (2005a) Ontology in organization and management studies: a critical realist perspective. Organization 12(1):197–222.
Fleetwood, S. (2005b) Conference 2006. Bhaskar Mailing List posting of 14 October 6:43 p.m.
Grundy, S. (1987) Curriculum: product or praxis? Sussex: The Falmer Press.
Guba, E. (ed.) (1990) The paradigm dialog. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Harré, R. (1979) Social being. Oxford: Basil Blackwell
Harré, R. (1986) The philosophies of science. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hodgson, L.M. (2002) Exploring changing identities: a case study of black students’ understanding of themselves as users of English, and as users of other languages. Unpublished Masters dissertation, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Irwin, L. (1997) Critique and transcendental argument. http://philosophy.consumercide.com/irwin-bhaskar.html (26 August 2003).
Judd, D. (2003) Critical realism and composition theory. London: Routledge.
Laclau, E. & Bhaskar, R. (1998) Discourse theory vs. critical realism. Alethia 1(2):9–14.
Locke, J. (1690) Epistle to the reader, in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/locke/locke1/Book1a.html (1 October 2004).
MacKenna, S. (2004) A critical investigation into discourses that construct academic literacy at the Durban Institute of Technology. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
MacLennan, G. (2005) CR according to the (2005) edition of the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (Denzin and Lincoln)? Bhaskar Mailing List posting of 14 October 8:43 a.m.
National Languages Working Committee for Technikons. (2003) Technikon RSA, Johannesburg, 8–9 May 2003.
Norris, C. (1999) Roy Bhaskar interviewed. The Philosophers’ Magazine, 8. http://www.raggedclaws.com/criticalrealism/archive/rbhaskar_rbi.html (18 August 2003).
Pratt, D.D. (2005e) The comm. skills online project: a tentative exploration of the interrelationship between traditional page-bound literacy, computer literacy and the development of academic literacy. International Journal of Learning 11:1739–1746. http://ijl.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.30/prod.475.
Pratt, D.D. (2009c) Mixed-mode Communication courses at a multicultural technikon: a pilot study combining web-based learning and an Internet search project with face-to-face classroom instruction. In S.P. Schaffer & M.L. Price (eds.), Interactive convergence: critical issues in multimedia (pp. 143–170). Vol. 10, Oxford, UK: Inter-Disciplinary Press. http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/publishing/id-press/ebooks/interactive-convergence-critical-issues-in-multimedia/
Sayer, R.A. (2000) Realism and social science. London: Sage Publications.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pratt, D. (2010). Critical Realism. In: Modelling Written Communication. Methodos Series, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9843-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9843-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9842-9
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9843-6
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)