Methodology or Phronesiology: Understanding of Phronetic Approach in Humanities Research

Document Type : review paper

Author

Faculty Member at Payame Noor University

Abstract

Methodology is an important tool in any research, including humanities and social sciences, as well as basic and natural sciences. Although in research methodology, humanities have mostly followed natural sciences, but as we moved forward, humanities and social sciences have tried to follow their own methodology. For this purpose, various methodological approaches have been proposed in the field of humanities and social sciences so that more fruitful results can be obtained by using them. But have these methodologies been able to achieve specific and better results? Can new methodologies solve social problems as well as natural problems? In humanities and social sciences, where the ultimate goal of research is to improve the quality of life and individual and collective well-being; which methodology has been able to achieve it? In the present research, an attempt has been made to explain the methodology based on Aristotle's practical wisdom (phronesis). Phronesis is one of Aristotle's five intellectual virtues, which he considered to be prior to other virtues. In the research based on Aristotle's phronesis, the context and the context in which the issues should be resolved are especially emphasized. The problem-oriented nature of the research is the basis of this approach; That is, Phronesis' approach in research believes that instead of being method-oriented, one should focus on the problem and choose the appropriate method. In other words, in the wisdom-based approach, which is based on Aristotle's Phronesis, approaching the reality in order to solve the problem is preferable to the type of method. The phronetic approach or praxis-oriented methodology in research proposed by Flyvbjerg in the phronetic planning research has been formed based on this framework. This research has attempted to introduce Phronesiology instead of methodology or even the methodology of Phronesiology in the humanities and social sciences.

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References

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