Making theories explicit

Three types of assumptions

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological:

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological:

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge– E.g. hard science vs. social science vs. experience;

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge– E.g. hard science vs. social science vs. experience;

consider also the assumptions in the Syria case

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge– E.g. hard science vs. social science vs. experience;

consider also the assumptions in the Syria case• Axiological:

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender;

assumptions about “human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge– E.g. hard science vs. social science vs. experience;

consider also the assumptions in the Syria case• Axiological: assumptions about value

Three types of assumptions

• Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – E.g.: biological theories of race or gender; assumptions about

“human nature;” many religious beliefs about the order of the world

• Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge– E.g. hard science vs. social science vs. experience; consider

also the assumptions in the Syria case• Axiological: assumptions about value– E.g. what counts as a good/bad job, relationship, boss, policy,

etc.

Question:

• How do clashes in ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions drive conflict?

Question:

• How do clashes in ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions drive conflict?

• “We carry both productive and unproductive prejudices into interaction and…we can interact with others in ways that either challenge these prejudices or in ways that protect them” (Deetz, Ch. 3).

Question:

• How do clashes in ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions drive conflict?

• “We carry both productive and unproductive prejudices into interaction and…we can interact with others in ways that either challenge these prejudices or in ways that protect them” (Deetz, Ch. 3).

CAT DOG TREE SQUIRREL

Core questions

• “Does this theory enable us to see the differences that are going to matter?

• What would it be like to believe that and what would happen if I did?

• What would I be committing myself to?• Does the theory help us produce the world we

want?

Mirror vs. Lens

Mirror vs. Lens

• Mirror theories

Mirror vs. Lens

• Mirror theories: ways of seeing that attempt to achieve accurate, objective representations of the world

Mirror vs. Lens

• Mirror theories: “presume that objective truths can be grasped and that therefore seek to accurately reflect and represent the world as it is”

Mirror vs. Lens

• Mirror theories: “presume that objective truths can be grasped and that therefore seek to accurately reflect and represent the world as it is”

• Lens theories:

Mirror vs. Lens

• Mirror theories: “presume that objective truths can be grasped and that therefore seek to accurately reflect and represent the world as it is”

• Lens theories: “ask whether our way of seeing the world illuminates the problems we face.”

Mirror vs. Lens

• Mirror theories: “presume that objective truths can be grasped and that therefore seek to accurately reflect and represent the world as it is”

• Lens theories: “ask whether our way of seeing the world illuminates the problems we face.”– Telescope vs. microscope (the question is not

which is more accurate but which is more useful in a specific situation).