“Die dissonansie van die dissidente diskoers”: Oor metodologie en vakbeoefening in die Geestes-wetenskappe

Abstract

Meaningful, frank and even polemical academic discourse lies at the heart of scientific scholarship. Such a discourse as a bartering of ideas should be governed by the same felicity conditions (Austen, 1962) namely “quantity”, “quality”, “relation” and “manner” as any other discourse. If these conditions are not met a discourse cannot be fully actualized. This implies appreciation for valuable insights, truthful and succinct rendition of the opponent’s views and relevance and fairness in your response. It will enhance intersubjectivity – one of the most important features of any scientific endeavour. This reaction to John (2005) tries to meet these conditions in refraining from personal attestations and rather concentrating on differences pertaining to theoretical issues. The focus is therefore on methodological aspects underpinning all scientific scholarship.