Performativity of Theory, Arbitrary Conventions, and Possible Worlds: A Reality Check

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Felin, Teppo; Foss, Nicolai J.
• 署名单位: Brigham Young University; Copenhagen Business School; Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
• 刊物名称: ORGANIZATION SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1047-7039
• DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1090.0433
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 676-678
• 关键词: performativity; ECONOMICS; philosophy of social science

摘要

We argue that Ferraro, Pfeffer, and Sutton build on a scientifically problematic conception of the relationship between theory and social reality. Specifically, the performativity perspective that they build on makes tenuous assumptions about the role that theories, whether true or not, play in strongly constructing social reality, but the perspective fundamentally ignores central matters related to human nature and the boundaries of possibility. We argue for a more realistic approach to theory building and social science, one that recognizes the role that true theories play in helping us understand and explain reality, but also in turn shaping that reality given this better theoretical understanding.