Critique of Bochenski’s Conception of Methodology in Philosophy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Philosophy Department, Benue State University, Makuirdi, Nigeria.

2 Department of Philosophy, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is an examination of Bochenski’s conception of an acceptable methodology for research in philosophy. Generally methodology refers to the building of scientific knowledge, methods are the how for building knowledge. it is the how, why method we have elected to reflect on the method of doing philosophy. This reflection proceeds from a preliminary discourse on the various methods that have been deployed in doing philosophy in the past to a discourse on the lessons from Josef Maria Bochenski’s thought. The paper, found out that such methods as the phenomenological method, the analytical method, the dialectical method, the hermeneutical method amongst others have been used in doing philosophy, past and present. We have argued in this paper that while it is true that real progress in philosophy can only be guaranteed by an adequate method that is grounded in logic and semantics, there is no single universally accepted method of doing philosophy. However, the conclusion that is reached in this paper, drawing from a reflection on Bochenski’s thought and insights from an intercultural perspective is that, an authentic philosophical method that rest on the phenomenological analysis and proceeds through analysis. Finally, whichever method one elects to use in doing philosophy, it must be guided by logic, and it must be complementary and not confrontational.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Agrey, L. (2014). Philosophical Hermeneutics: A Tradition with Promise, Universal Journal of Educational Research. 2 (2).
António, Manuel Martins. (2020). Philosophical method and Systematic Philosophy, The Humanities and Social Studies in the Far East, (3)23: 123-128.
Bochenski, J. M. (1965). The Methods of Contemporary Thought, Bern: D. Reidel Publishing Company.
Lukasiewicz, D and Mordarski, R “Introduction to the Thoughts of Bochenski” in Stud East Eur Thought, Vol. 65, 2013.
Mantzavinos, C. (2016). Hermeneutics, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL= https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/hermeneutics/. Retrieved 01:09:2020.
Odok, J. A. (2014). Philosophy of Hermeneutics (Analysis of texts), in Ozumba, G. O.; Ojong, K. A. (Ed.) The Mirror of Philosophy. Uyo: El-Johns Publisher.
Ozolins, Janis. (2014). What in the world is Intercultural Philosophy: A Reflection, William Sweet (Ed.) What is Intercultural Philosophy Washington D. C: Council for Research in Value and Philosophy.
Prabhakaran, V. (2011). The Methodology of Philosophy. University of Calicut. N. D.
Rochelle, G. (2012). Doing Philosophy Edinburg: Dunedin.
Shagor, H. (2020). Marx and Religion: A Brief Study. http//www.mukto-mona.com/.../religion_marx.pdf Retrieved on the 20th of February.
Spiegelberg, H. (1971). The Phenomenological Movement: A Historical Introduction, Vol. 1. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
Staniland, H. S. (1979). What is Philosophy? Second Order – An African Journal of Philosophy. Vol. 8(1): 3-10.
Williamson, T. (2007). The Philosophy of Philosophy Oxford: Blackwell.
Send comment about this article
CAPTCHA Image
Journal of Philosophical Investigations
Volume 16, Issue 41 - Serial Number 41
English Special Issue: Philosophy of Education
2023
Pages 206-221

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics