The Logic of Posthuman Empiricism: Beyond Reductio ad Absurdum Arguments

• In Event: Rethinking Methodologies

Abstract

Following the theme of this year’s conference, this paper examines the practices of logical inference that will be needed if education research is to have genuinely transformational consequences. So-called reductio ad absurdum arguments are essential to the critical project of most contemporary methods of social inquiry. We argue that this taken for granted logic is neither necessary nor inevitable and that assuming it is necessary runs the risk of reinforcing the very social systems education research often seeks to challenge. Drawing on contemporary posthumanist philosophy of science, we propose an alternative logical framework and offer a vision of a more speculative and affirmative practice of education research made possible by moving beyond a reliance on reductio ad absurdum arguments.

Authors

• Scott L. Pratt, University of Oregon
  Presenting Author

• Jerry L. Rosiek, University of Oregon
  Presenting Author