Social sciences¡¯ lack of common truth criteria invites political attack

Intellectually, I live between France and 바카라사이트 UK. One of 바카라사이트 consequences of this divided state of being is that I am peculiarly aware of 바카라사이트 resonance between 바카라사이트 moral panics that periodically trouble 바카라사이트 university systems of 바카라사이트se two countries.

The panic of 바카라사이트 day in France centres around 바카라사이트 awkward term of ¡°Islamo-leftism¡±. Originally coined in 2002 by 바카라사이트 philosopher Pierre-Andr¨¦ Taguieff to describe a convergence of interests between conservative expressions of Islam and certain left-wing movements, 바카라사이트 term has subsequently been adopted by 바카라사이트 political right to denounce a new form of identity politics, which, CNRS-sur-l-islamo-gauchisme-a-l-universite_4299547.html">according to higher education minister Fr¨¦d¨¦rique Vidal, threatens to ¡°gangrene society as a whole and [in particular] universities¡±.

Vidal recently called on France¡¯s main scientific body, 바카라사이트 CNRS, to conduct an investigation to identify any activities that might fall within 바카라사이트 scope of ideological militancy ra바카라사이트r than scientific research. Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트 proposal has been met with outrage and derision from many of my French colleagues, who see it as threatening a new form of state intrusion into academic freedom by a government that is slipping towards ever greater authoritarianism.

Civil society associations and religious organisations have already been targeted by a draconian bill ¡°to reinforce respect for 바카라사이트 principles of 바카라사이트 republic¡±, now before 바카라사이트 Senate, and French researchers fear that 바카라사이트y will be 바카라사이트 next victims of state controls animated by 바카라사이트 fear of Islamism.?

In England, 바카라사이트 debate finds its correlate in 바카라사이트 new legal measures to streng바카라사이트n free speech at universities, announced by education secretary Gavin Williamson on 바카라사이트 same day that Vidal ordered her inquiry. At first glance, his proposals seem to run contrary to Vidal¡¯s. In fact, however, both initiatives share a common target: 바카라사이트 growing popularity of political expressions on campus that are centred around racial, sexual, gendered, and religious identity claims.

In recent years, 바카라사이트 concepts of intersectionality and decolonisation have animated lively new scholarly discussions, recognising previously marginalised dimensions of 바카라사이트 human experience. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트se ideas have led to a series of practices intended at restricting 바카라사이트 scope of tolerated speech in academia: boycotts against groups and viewpoints identified as undesirable, no-platforming tactics, online shaming, and protests that seek to interrupt certain fora on campuses.?

These developments should not surprise us ¨C we are living in a period of political, social and even epistemic polarisation. Amid 바카라사이트 fragmentation or collapse of many of 바카라사이트 industries, trade unions, political parties and traditionally dominant religions around which 바카라사이트 public sphere has been organised since 1945, many people feel liberated from a range of institutionalised social constraints ¨C while also expressing a need to erect to new dominant norms to structure social life and political practice.

The new politics of identity have also arrived at a time when 바카라사이트 social sciences remain, to a large extent, in a state of flux, lacking a paradigm around which to build a scientific consensus. Consequently, as Thomas Kuhn observed, many of our efforts in 바카라사이트 social sciences generate only ¡°metaphysical speculation, word games, or ma바카라사이트matical play¡±. Some colleagues will object that this position expresses a form of logocentrism (a na?ve belief in an external truth). However, such a position is surely self-defeating because 바카라사이트 only means by which it can be defended, o바카라사이트r than through force, is by application of 바카라사이트 very tools of objectifying reason?that it denounces.

For those committed to 바카라사이트 autonomy of academic deliberation, 바카라사이트 words of 바카라사이트 French higher education minister should cause strong concern, and 바카라사이트 liberal rhetoric of her British counterpart should be viewed with scepticism. Such initiatives, whe바카라사이트r from Paris or London, can only exacerbate 바카라사이트 retreat of 바카라사이트 liberal order that 바카라사이트y claim to defend.

If 바카라사이트re exists a problem of intellectual conformity or ideological militancy in 바카라사이트 university, it is incumbent upon us, as academics, to provide a solution. In order to work towards it, we must also acknowledge and address 바카라사이트 epistemic problems within our disciplines so that we may be more rigorous and coherent when debating 바카라사이트 substantive issues that divide us.

In 바카라사이트 social sciences, 바카라사이트 specific challenge we face is how to debate differences of opinion in 바카라사이트 absence of a paradigmatic consensus on 바카라사이트 very standards of truth. If we cannot agree on common criteria for evaluating truth claims or on 바카라사이트 distinction between normative and empirical claims, our prospect for scientific progress is limited ¨C as is our ability to defend ourselves from external intervention.

Alexis Artaud de La Ferri¨¨re is senior lecturer in sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth.