Riley Pritchett
Professor Jessica Lavariega
Monforti
MLS697 Methodology
13 November 2016
A
Philosophy of Social Science and Literature
The question of
knowing others is an ancient one. The Apostle Paul rhetorically asked in one of
his letters “who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person,
which is in him?” (English Standard Version, 1 Cor. 2.11a). In the time since Paul
assumed the privacy of thought, rationalism, interpretivism, and related
philosophies have attempted to explain why people do what they do, and to what
extent we can truly know each other.
In literature,
knowing the main character gives depth to the storytelling process. Knowing the
people on the page or screen taps into humanity’s longing for likeness and
emotional intimacy. The thrill of sharing grief, excitement, or horror with a
character is an integral part of what makes storytelling compelling.
This work will
examine rationalism, interpretivism, and how to form a balanced philosophy of
human knowledge that can direct literary criticism and storytelling in a
positive way. Without such a philosophy, the actions of others devolve into
meaninglessness.
1. Rationalism
The first stop
on the journey of human explanation is rationalism, which assumes that actions
can be explained through intent—through rationale. For example, I went to the
store to buy eye drops because my eyes were dry, and I wish to avoid pain. My
actions can be explained through my reasoning and through my beliefs. I believe
that my condition will not subside on its own, that eye drops will alleviate my
discomfort, and that the appropriate product will be available at the store. I
am acting rationally. Moreover, the reasons for my actions can be divined by
someone who observes me.
By assuming
rationality in human behavior, rationalists avoid the historical mistake of
assuming that people who are difficult to understand are simply irrational.
Culture, race, sexuality, gender, and experience all influence how someone
thinks. Without rationalism, those important contexts may be ignored, instead
resorting to the philosophically lazy conclusion that someone different is
simply illogical, bigoted, irrational, or ignorant.
1.1 Irrational Behavior
And so rationalism
assumes human behavior (barring insanity) can be explained. Humans behave
rationally, and we can assume that they will continue to do so. But what of truly
irrational behavior? If irrational behavior exists, rationalism must be
modified lest it is rejected in favor of self-centric philosophy on the one hand,
or it becomes intensely causalist on the other hand, seeking explanation for
behavior which may not have an explanation. In his Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science, Brian Fay outlines such
a modification. According to Fay, even irrational behavior has rational
underpinnings. The thought behind an action, though flawed, may still resemble
rational thought. He argues that we cannot assume everyone is perfectly
rational, but that in general humans are rational in how they behave (110).
If seemingly
irrational behavior must have deducible reasons, we are forced into stranger
and stranger explanations for irrational behavior. Legitimizing the need for
unconventional rationale reduces the meaning of all rationale. That is, if
truly irrational behavior must be explained through backwards and complex
logic, there is nothing stopping someone from using that logic on rational
behavior. This opens the gate for sophism and manipulation in a way that can be
avoided simply by accepting Fay’s reasonable moderation of rationalism.
In the context
of storytelling, rationalism assists in creating believable characters.
Modeling characters with logical reasons for their behavior gives believability
to a story. Likewise, allowing for flawed thinking that mimics rational thought
can give a flavor of authenticity, for true literature is able to demonstrate
both humanity’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. Interpretivism and Deconstruction
Before going
into the details of storytelling and human knowledge, it is necessary to discuss
interpretivism, an extension of rationalism which emphasizes the context of
actions. Unless we understand a person’s culture, the interpretivist argues, we
have no chance of adequately understanding his or her motivation. Indeed,
observation of culture is the primary goal of intepretivism. So not only do
humans behave according to rationale, but they do so in the subjective context
of culture. Without understanding of situation, culture, and self-identification,
an observer has no guarantee in understanding the motives of another person.
2.1 Limitations
The weakness of
extreme interpretivism is it loses out on the potential to explain cultures
themselves. An interpretivist intends merely to observe, whereas a complete
deconstruction attempts to unlock the patterns and rationale behind the
phenomena being studied. Without deconstruction, interpretivism is insufficient
to fully explain cultural behavior. Indeed, without deconstruction, cultural
behavior can seem irrational, the very problem rationalism and interpretivism
attempts to solve. Philosophers cannot use “because the culture is that way” as
the end-all for behavioral interpretation. Deconstruction gives tools with
which in which to examine behavior, as well as giving license to examine the
cultures themselves (Fay 131).
2.2 Deconstruction
Deconstruction
is “a theory used in the study of literature or philosophy which says that a
piece of writing does not have just one meaning and that meaning depends on the
reader” (Merriam-Webster, no page). Ironically, the subjective nature of
deconstruction gives a more objective framework in which to study culture and
identity. By opening the space for multiple meanings in culture,
deconstructionism produces the space to find underlying principles that shape
culture and how it relates to the world, whether intended or not.
Simply
accepting the culture’s status quo without examining its underpinnings gives up
potential meanings that may lurk in the undercurrent of the culture. For
example, take American gay culture. Established in a climate of oppression and
turmoil, many of its underpinnings are in explicit defiance of traditional
society. This inherent deviance may direct the thinking of some members of the
community while simultaneously alienating others. Deconstruction allows for
both groups to behave rationally in reaction to their community’s historically
derived mores and stereotypes. With this in mind, let us explore human
knowledge in the context of literature.
3. Directional Knowledge and Literature
Rationalism,
interpretivism, and deconstruction each contribute a piece of social
understanding. But what of the practical question: Can someone be known by another?
Is it even theoretically possible? After all, one can spend an immense amount
of time with a close friend, yet still discover new facets to his or her
personality. The dictionary definition of “know” is “to perceive directly” or
“to be aware of the truth or factuality of” (Merriam-Webster, no page). For the
purposes of this discussion, to know means to have intimate and predictive
knowledge of another human being which, once attained, would render it
difficult to surprise the knower with unexpected or seemingly irrational
behavior.
This kind of
complete knowledge of a person is in a sense impossible. A writer hardly expects
a time to come when all of humanity is explained and there is nothing is left
to write about. New facets of self and of others always remain to fuel literary
creation. But is it reasonable to expect to learn more of others if arrival at
the truth is impossible? If it were fruitless labor, marriage and friendship,
reading and writing, conversation and silence would all lack meaning. If there
is no goal, no ability to improve, what point is there in trying to love or
know?
For this
conundrum, let us again adopt the moderate attitude of Brian Fay. As he defines
objectivity, let us define knowing:
So, can we
objectively understand others? No, if objectivity is interpreted in an
objectivist fashion to mean “as they are in themselves.” But Yes if objectivity
is interpreted in a falliblist way to mean “in an open-minded, responsive to
evidence, accountable, criticism-seeking manner.” (221)
This humble approach to
objectivity offers an appealing open-ended solution to the coin that is
objectivity and relativity. Rather than landing on one side and dismissing the
other, Fay defines objectivity as a direction rather than a destination.
Returning to
the subject of knowledge, it is quickly apparent that a precise definition could
be debated ad nauseam. It is more useful instead to think of knowledge not as a
golden threshold, but as the direction of knowing more about others. There is
no destination of empathy, but there is a practice of it.
3.1 Literary Criticism
What does this
mean for literary criticism? When investigating the meaning of literature, it
is necessary to employ the principle of directional knowledge as discussed
above. While multiple meanings may exist (as in deconstruction), perhaps one
may be better than the other in the light of directional knowledge. We cannot
assume perfect knowledge of story characters, or of the author who penned them,
but we can in a spirit of objectivity arrive closer to ideal operational
knowledge of characters.
Critics’
perception of truth is evolving. The meaning of Raskolnikov’s redemption in Crime and Punishment may change as
society advances. Perhaps Pride and Prejudice
may fall out of style in literary circles, but return with the return of
analogous social hierarchical structures. Directional knowledge allows for the
preservation of the possibility of improving understanding or of fresh
contemporary understandings.
3.2 Philosophy of Storytelling
The open-ended
nature of directional knowledge is perhaps the greatest boon of literature.
After all, no one asks, “Are you going to write the last great American novel?” He or she asks, “Are you going to write
the next great American novel?”
Because there is no arrival, there will always be literature and literary
characters to explore. This principle can be used as a framework to formulate a
philosophy of social science in the context of storytelling and character
knowledge.
Storytelling
must be founded on rational characters. Even characters struggling with
insanity need rational elements. It is their connection to us that we cherish,
and the tragedy of their loss of that connection that we lament. By presenting
generally rational characters (in the context of their own culture), authors
provide delight to the senses and an expansion of the human experience.
Storytelling
offers a context of character knowledge. The desire to know another is not
unique to the real world as we experience it. Characters, offered in a vacuum,
are of academic or esoteric value first, but when placed in a story, the story
brings alive the character and the desire to know him or her. Lacking this, the
story will leave its reader dissatisfied in the quest for knowledge of other
(the character) and of self (in contrast with the character).
Storytelling
points rather than arrives. As we have defined knowledge of others as direction
rather than finite goals, so must storytelling be defined. Knowledge of
character and subject-matter is not absolute, and great storytellers realize
this on some level. It is not the business of the novelist to enumerate every
meaning of his or her work, nor to perfectly elucidate the motives of his or
her characters. Instead, stories point toward greater truth, toward a more
complete view of humanity.
4. Summary
If complete
knowledge of another person (real or fictional) is not perfectly possible, it
is possible to strive to know someone. As objectivity is most effectively
defined as a direction rather than a destination, so knowledge of others should
be viewed. This satisfies rationalism in that assumes there are discoverable
underpinnings to human action. Likewise, it fits with interpretivism in that it
allows for different views based on elements such as culture and
self-identification.
In the context
of literature, holding knowledge of others as ever-evolving complements the
ever-evolving nature of literature and storytelling. Without the assurance that
men and women can be better known (if not perfectly know), literary criticism
is completely defanged. And without that knowledge, confidence in creating
relatable and discoverable characters is similarly undone.
While common
sense rather than extensive study may have instructed the Apostle Paul, his
observation about human knowledge offers an encapsulation of the mystery of
man, a mystery that humanity will spend the rest of its days studying—or in the
words of dramatist W. S. Gilbert, “Hop and skip to Fancy’s fiddle, / Hands
across and down the middle – / Life’s perhaps the only riddle / That we shrink
from giving up!” (Green 645)
References
The Bible. English Standard
Version. Crossway. Web. 2016.
Green, Martyn. Martyn Green’s Treasury of Gilbert & Sullivan. New
York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1961. Print.
Fay, Brian. Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science. Malden, MA:
Blackwell Publishing, 1996. Print.
Merriam-Webster. “Merriam-Webster Online.” Web. 2016.