Week 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Philosophy of Science
Explores the nature of scientific knowledge and why it is considered more credible than everyday knowledge.
- based on generalisable rules and patterns rather than specific areas
- to ensure credibility, scientific research must be repeatable (scrutiny), transparent, and controllable
5 Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
- Generalisability
- science aims to explain and understand broad phenomena rather than isolated instances - Controllability
- research must be repeatable and transparent to verify findings - Objectivity
- external influences and biases must be excluded from research - Recognised Methods
- scientific methods must be justified and widely accepted - Parsimony
- the simplest explanation that covers the most observation is preferred, though complexity is sometimes necessary
Summary of the 5 Characteristics
- Generalisability
- Understand broad patterns - Controllability
- Research must be transparent & repeatable - Objectivity
- Must be unbiased & independent - Valid Research Methods
- Must follow accepted academic standards - Parsimony
- Simple but effective explanations are preferred
Philosophical Thinking (Kahneman’s Thinking Systems)
2 Types of Thinking
System 1: Fast, intuitive, automatic, but unreliable
System 2: Slow, deliberate, effortful, but reliable
Our brain prefers system 1 because it requires less effort, but system 2 is necessary for complex reasoning.
Ontology vs Epistemology
Ontology: The study of reality (what exists?)
- theory about reality
Epistemology: The study of knowledge (how do we know what we know?)
- what is knowledge and how it is obtained
Flow of thought:
1. Ontology - what exists?
2. Epistemology - how do we know it?
3. Methodology - how should we study it?
Misconceptions Regarding Philosophy of Management Science
Misconception 1: Only empirical research is scientific
- Empirical research (using surveys, experiments, field studies) is important but not the only valid scientific method
- e.g. the concept of gravity is theoretical, they cannot be observed directly
- Empiricism: a theory that states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience
Misconception 2: Science is only descriptive, not prescriptive
- Management science is not just about describing what happens; it also prescribes what should be done
- research does not tell managers what works, but also guides decision-making
The Good Reason Model of Truth
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What is Reasonable from 3 Perspectives
- Methodology
- how should research be conducted
- social science debates: qualitative (statistical analysis) vs quantitative (interviews, case studies) - Epistemology
- what we know?
- scientists look for regularities & patterns to explain events - Ontology
- what is real?
- different theories on how organisations exist: - Emile Durkheim - social institutions have a real existence of their own
- Max Weber - organisations only exist because individuals act within them
- Social vs Natural reality
- social: €50 note is worth €50
- natural: rocks and trees are real
Idealism vs Realism
Idealism: all objects exist only as mental representations and disappear when not observed
- extreme position as it denies the independent existence of reality
Realism: objects exist independently of our perception, but the way we perceive and categorise them is shaped by our minds
- e.g. inuits recognise multiple types of snow, whereas other may only see one
Kantian Realism: our mind actively structures reality using categories like time, space, and causality
- reality exists, but we can only understand it through these mental frameworks
- scientific knowledge is always shaped by the way we interpret observations
- since we categorise reality differently depending on our perspective, multiple methods (e.g. quantitative vs qualitative) are needed to study both natural and social phenomena
Philosophy of Science in Management
Explores how science works and how we determine valid knowledge.
Determinism: if we knew all natural laws and conditions, we could predict the future with certainty
- works in natural sciences but is more complex in social sciences, where human behaviour introduces uncertainty
Counterfactual causation: in social science, causation is tested by comparing what happens when a factor X is present vs absent (e.g. does gender diversity improve firm performance?)
Types of explanations:
- functional: explains its scientific rule (e.g. the heart pumps blood)
- intentional: depends on personal mind (why are you at RSM?)
- social sciences rely on intentional explanations because human behaviour is driven by reasoning and choice
Social Ontology & Epistemology
Social realities (e.g. money, firms) exist because we believe in them. Unlike physical objects, they stop existing if people stop recognising them.
Double Hermeneutic
- our beliefs about social structures shape reality itself
Legal Entities
- firms are treated like people in law even though only humans act
Positive vs Normative Theory:
- Positive: describes reality as it is
- Normative: describes how reality should be
- These theories are related but independent; a normative claim can be valid even if a positive claim contradicts it
Logic & Argumentation
A logical argument consists of premises leading to a conclusion. If the premises are true and the reasoning is valid, the conclusion must also be true.
Valid reasoning (Modus Tollens)
- if it’s a dog, it has four legs
- this animal has no legs
- therefore it is not a dog
- valid
Fallacy (Affirming the Consequent)
- if it’s raining, the ground is wet
- the ground is wet
- therefore it must be raining
- flawed reasoning: there could be other causes
