Pragmatist imperative and social research, part II

Abstract

In this article we analyse the influences of pragmatism on the social sciences. In the second part of the text, we highlight three conceptual contributions offered by pragmatism for social research. The first refers to the creativity of action, calling for the description of the innumerable creative adjustments that the actors display, in a neither thoughtless nor automatic way, to solve various problems of ordinary life. The second focuses on the importance of studying the multiple disputes and controversies that structure social relationships. Third, it highlights the processes of social categorization, fundamental in defining the identity of people, groups, sociohistorical events, and even objects or devices that are part of our social life. Finally, in the conclusions we rethink the way in which philosophical traditions are linked to the development of the social sciences. We asses that all traditions -also pragmatism- can be considered imperative when thinking and carrying out the research task. Starting from the definition of specific questions and the cutting of concrete objects, philosophical traditions have the capacity to operate as imperatives for research work and, therefore, are central to thinking about the development of multiple styles of research that coexists in social sciences.