Communities of Dialogue Russian and Ukrainian Émigrés in Modernist Prague

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Need rhetorical analysis lead to relativism? an examination of the views of K. J. Gergen

Sybe J. S. Terwee

pp. 15-27

Abstract

This article examines Kenneth Gergen's rhetorical conception of social psychology. Gergen's criticism of certain positivist assumptions of mainstream academic psychology is seen as valuable and basically valid. While his arguments do not imply the impossibility of empirical-analytical psychology, the persistent beliefs concerning the value-neutrality, testability, and applicability of empirical hypotheses do seem to be in need of revision. However, some of Gergen's arguments are reinterpreted. His rejection of foundationalism is shown to be virtually impossible in the light of Ludwig Wittgenstein's analysis of certainty and doubt. Hence, Gergen's claim that interpretations are open to infinite revision is consequently relativized. A revised interpretative conception of psychology is sketched in the conclusion.

Publication details

Published in:

Mos Leendert (1988) Recent trends in theoretical psychology: proceedings of the second biannual conference of the international society for theoretical psychology, april 20–25, 1987, banff, Alberta, canada. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 15-27

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-3902-4_2

Full citation:

Terwee Sybe J S (1988) „Need rhetorical analysis lead to relativism? an examination of the views of K. J. Gergen“, In: L. Mos (ed.), Recent trends in theoretical psychology, Dordrecht, Springer, 15–27.