Realism:
Neoclassical economics is preoccupied with the scientifically neutral extraction of real causalities. This implies that Neoclassicals subscribe to a positivist worldview, in which the economic reality can be observed and modelled.
Realism:
Being inherently interdisciplinary with heavy influences from biology, climate science, physics and other natural sciences, ecological economics has a strong orientation towards empirical testing of theories and hypotheses.
Realism:
On the most abstract level, PKE presupposes that capitalist economies are composed of certain social structures that exist independently of scientific observation (in philosophy of science, this view is called ‘realism.)
Realism:
The descriptive orientation is attached to a epistemological realism, which proposes that human behaviour can be observed and described by scientists in a relatively unproblematic fashion.
Middle:
The assumption of fundamental uncertainty entails that knowledge can always turn out to “unknowledge,” which means that statements are always hypothetical. According this epistemology there is at least one reality that is independent from humans. This reality does have a structure in which causal relations are existent and can at least partially be understood (structural realism).
Middle:
Even though there is a tradition of positivist research, the perspective as a whole can arguably be credited with acknowledging the epistemological problem of getting access to the real world. Also, issues of social construction and interpretation are present in this perspective.
Middle:
The fallible nature of science as well as its theory laden and standpoint dependent character are acknowledged but still judgement as to whether the theory is good or bad is possible by reference to the real world.
Middle:
Feminist standpoint theory is not a pledge for relativism. Instead, feminist thought seeks to arrive at a strong objectivism by integrating diverse fields of knowledge.
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Constructivist:
Knowledge that is related to social phenomena is generated by the interpretations of individuals and hence can be conceived as socially constructed. Friedrich von Hayek has illustrated this point by stating that as far as human behaviour is concerned, things are what people think that they are.