“The International”, Epistemic Fallacy and Possibilities of Critical Realism
Abstract
This article examines the main assumptions of neo-realism and neo-liberalism from the perspective of a critical realist philosophy of science. Although neo-realist and neo-liberal theories of international relations (IR) disagree on some issues, they do have a common ontological understanding of “the international” based heavily on the principle of anarchy. The centrality of and emphasis on anarchy, in turn, creates a monolithic, unhistorical and asocial idea of the international. This article argues that a critical realist philosophy of science, as proposed by Roy Bhaskar, provides a good framework to pursue the ontological interrogation required to deconstruct the anarchy centered idea of the international assumed by rationalist/positivist theories. Critical realism allows us to identify the crucial error that the rationalist/positivist tradition commits: which is to fall into the trap of ‘epistemic fallacy’, where ontological questions concerning the nature of being are posed and answered in epistemological terms. Critical realism not only provides a tool to investigate the ontological assumptions of mainstream IR theories but also to propose a differentiated and stratified ontology that can open the door to the mutual recognition of alternative perspectives.
Keywords
Theories of International Relations, Positivism, Ontology, Critical Realist Philosophy of Science, Roy Bhaskar.
Citation
Ulman, Burak, Balta-Peker, Evren and Ağcan, Muhammed A., ““The International”, Epistemic Fallacy and Possibilities of Critical Realism”, International Relations, Volume 8, Issue 30 (Summer 2011), pp. 15-41.
Affiliations
- Burak ÜLMAN, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Yildiz Technical University, Department of Political Science and International Relations
- Evren BALTA-PAKER, Dr., Yildiz Technical University, Department of Political Science and International Relations
- Muhammed A.AĞCAN, Dr., Yildiz Technical University, Department of Political Science and International Relations