The Universal in the Particular: Universalising Social Science
Keywords:
Assimilation, captive mind, common good, community development, Eurocentrism, generalisability, globalisation, indigeneity, integration, multiculturalism, nation state, panchayati raj, paradigms, parochialisation, pluralism, subsidiarity, tradition, universalisation, utopistic, Western modernity, Assimilasie, Eurosentrisme, gemeenskaplike welsyn, gemeenskapsontwikkeling, gevange gees, globalisasie, hulpmiddels, inheemsheid, integrasie, multikulturalisme, nasiestaat, paradigmas, parogialisme, pluralisme, tradisie, universalisme, utopisties, veralgemening, Westerse moderniteitAbstract
English
Two epistemological questions relating to the universalisation of the social sciences have been raised in this article. First, the social sciences that originated in the West are indigenous to the West, but are they necessarily universal for the rest? Second, can the universal always explain the particular, unless the universals in the particulars contribute to the construction of the universal? An argument is made for the indigenisation – as opposed to parochialisation – of the social sciences in the nonWestern world in reaching out to the goal of universalising the social sciences. The way to go about it is to design researches that are able to generalise beyond the context. Indigenously designed research has to emancipate itself from the “captive mind” syndrome and follow the “logic of inquiry” driven by theoreticalmethodological rigour. The argument is illustrated by critiquing the relevance of the concepts and theories of Western “modernity” and “multiculturalism” in the Indian, South Asian context.
Afrikaans
Die Universele in die Besondere: Die Universalisering van Sosiale Wetenskappe
Twee epistemologiese vrae met betrekking tot die universalisering van die sosiale wetenskappe word in hierdie artikel gevra. In die eerste plek kan aanvaar word dat die sosiale wetenskappe wat in die Weste ontstaan het, inheems aan die Weste is, maar is hulle noodwendig van universele waarde vir die res? In die tweede plek, kan die universele altyd die besondere verduidelik, tensy die universele in die besondere bydra tot die konstruksie van die universele? ʼn Argument is te make vir die inheemsing – teenoor die parogialisasie – van die sosiale wetenskappe in die nieWesterse wêreld vir die bereiking van die doelwit van die universalisering van die sosiale wetenskappe. Die wyse waarop dit bereik kan word, is om navorsing te ontwerp wat buite die konteks daarvan kan veralgemeen. Inheems-ontwerpte navorsing moet homself bevry van die “gevange gees” sindroom en die “logika van die ondersoek” volg, aangedryf deur teoreties-metodologiese nougesetheid. Hierdie argument word geïllustreer aan die hand van ʼn kritiese ontleding van die betekenis van die konsepte en teorieë van Westerse “moderniteit” en “multikulturalisme” in die Indiese, Suid-Asiese konteks.
