Browsing by Author "Oyigo, Josephat"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Contextual Limitations in Sandra Harding's Epistemological Framework and How They Can be Overcome
    (EdinBurg Peer Reviewed Journals and Books Publishers, 2024-05) Mulwa, Beatrice Jannie; Magero, Jacob; Oyigo, Josephat
    This paper aims to investigate the contextual constraints in Sandra Harding's epistemology and suggest methods to get around them. The standpoint theory developed by Harding highlights the significance of taking historical, social, and cultural contexts into account when producing knowledge. This strategy essentializes and homogenizes various experiences and viewpoints. The study offers potential solutions to these constraints by critically examining the drawbacks of intersectionality and feminist standpoint theory. This entails embracing a more nuanced understanding of power dynamics, encouraging inclusive and diverse viewpoints, and acknowledging the complexities of multiple intersecting identities. The study aims to strengthen and enhance Harding's epistemology by addressing its contextual limitations and promoting a more equitable and inclusive approach to knowledge production. To achieve this goal, this study employs the laws of thought: three guiding principles: the non-contradiction rule, the excluded middle, and the identity principle. The study is primarily a conceptual analysis that proceeded by library study, employing the typical philosophical argumentation approach of evaluation, analysis, synthesis, reflection, and philosophical speculation. By highlighting the weaknesses of Harding's epistemology and suggesting possible remedies, this study contributes to a broader debate on the potential limitations of epistemology. It offers insights into developing more robust epistemological frameworks that promote social justice and inclusivity in knowledge inquiries, practices, and justification.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The rationality of science: a critical- theoretic perspective
    (2012-04-13) Oyigo, Josephat
    This study is an attempt to unveil a comprehensive and viable theoretical framework that can , be used to explicate the intuitive notion of science as the paragon of human rationality. The study was prompted by the existence of a puzzling state of affairs in philosophy of science. On one hand, the image generally projected of science is that of rationality per excellence and this image is recommended for the rest of society. On the other hand, philosophers disagree on exactly what the rationality of. science entails. A critical examination of the subject area reveals that there is no theory of rationality of science acceptable to all on offer. The concern of the study is therefore twofold: First, why is science intuitively taken as the, exemplar of human rationality? Second, are the assessments of science now offered themselves rational? In answering these questions, the study reveals that, the traditional assessment frameworks, normally called methodologies are intrinsically defective and therefore incapable of explicating the rationality of science. It demonstrates that methodologies posit a dichotomy between descriptive and normative conceptions of rationality. This dichotomy is shown to be false. These frameworks also promote an instrumentalist conception of the rationality, which the study proves to be inadequate for the explication of the rationality of science. On the basis of these findings, the study suggests a conceptual paradigm shift from the traditional framework that is subject-centered and mono logical to a synthetic critical theoretic framework that is dialogical. This framework is arrived at after integrating Jurgen Habermas linguistically grounded theory of cotnmunicative rationality with Karl popper's institutional theory of scientific progress. It emphasizes epistemically and institutionally structured inter-subjective communication as central to rationality. The ensuing synthesis generates a mUltidimensional', and comprehensive framework that explicates the rationality of science. The critical theoretic framework is significant because it clarifies our understanding of the nature of rationality and the nature of science, which are imperative in science studies, philosophy of education and epistemology.