Realism in Philosophy

Scholar in philosophy belived that it was Aristotle who first popularized realism when he opposed Plato’s idealism and argued that the “real” exists in the sensible world which can be known though experience
It was Aristotle who provided the fundemental structure of the development of realism and its penetration in other disciplines, such as in arts and polictics.

Realism, in the context of philosophy, refers to the belief that the world exists independently of human perception or belief. The ontological position of realism holds that there is an objective reality that exists regardless of our thoughts, perceptions, or experiences. This reality is not dependent on human consciousness or the mental states of individuals.

In its ontological form, realism asserts that the entities and objects we perceive exist in the world in a way that is independent of whether we observe them or not. This includes the existence of physical objects, natural laws, and even abstract entities such as mathematical objects or universals (e.g., properties like “redness” or “beauty”). The world is composed of these independent entities, and they have certain properties or structures that can be discovered through scientific investigation or rational inquiry.

Some key features of ontological realism include:

1. Independence from Human Perception: Reality exists and has properties independent of how we perceive or conceive it.
2. Mind-Independent Existence: The entities and facts of the world exist whether or not anyone is aware of them, thinks about them, or believes in them.
3. Objectivity: Realism suggests that there are objective facts about the world that are true regardless of human opinion.

Realism stands in contrast to anti-realism, which holds that the existence of certain entities or facts is dependent on our mental constructions, language, or perceptions.

There are also various subtypes of realism, such as:

• Scientific realism: The view that the entities posited by successful scientific theories (e.g., electrons, black holes) exist independently of our beliefs about them.
• Metaphysical realism: The broader belief in an independent and objective reality beyond human perception.
• Moral realism: The idea that moral facts or values exist independently of human belief or opinion.

Overall, the ontological position of realism is foundational to many debates in philosophy, particularly in the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science.

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In what way does the ontological position of realism support the use of mixed methods in social science research? Illustrate with a case of evaluating local governance efficiency.

In social science research, ontological positions refer to the nature of reality and what is considered to be true or real. The ontological position of realism holds that there is an objective reality that exists independently of human perceptions, but our understanding of this reality is mediated through social, cultural, and individual contexts. Realism recognizes that there is an underlying reality that researchers aim to uncover, while acknowledging that our understanding of that reality is often shaped by our perspectives, theories, and methods of investigation.

How Realism Supports the Use of Mixed Methods:

Realism supports the use of mixed methods in research because it embraces both quantitative and qualitative data to uncover the multiple layers of reality. Realism is based on the idea that complex social phenomena are often multi-dimensional, and understanding these phenomena requires both objective measurements (often captured through quantitative methods) and in-depth understanding of context, meaning, and experiences (typically gathered through qualitative methods).

Mixed methods combine these approaches, recognizing that reality can be studied from both an objective, measurable perspective (through quantitative data) and a subjective, interpretive perspective (through qualitative insights). Realism aligns with mixed methods by allowing for a more comprehensive exploration of complex social issues that cannot be fully understood from a single methodological approach.

Case Study: Evaluating Local Governance Efficiency

Let’s consider a study evaluating local governance efficiency in a rural community.

1. Quantitative Approach (Objective Reality):
   1. From a realist perspective, the objective reality of local governance efficiency can be captured through quantitative indicators such as:
      1. Budget allocation and spending: Analyzing financial data to determine whether funds are being appropriately allocated to key sectors like education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc.
      1. Public service delivery metrics: Collecting data on the number of services provided (e.g., number of schools built, roads repaired, health services provided) within a specific time frame.
      1. Citizen satisfaction surveys: Measuring satisfaction levels with governance using structured surveys with numeric scales.

These data points can be objectively measured, and they provide a tangible, quantifiable view of governance performance.

• Qualitative Approach (Subjective Reality):
  • Realism also recognizes that understanding local governance efficiency requires exploring the contextual and subjective aspects of governance. For example:
    • Interviews with community members: Exploring how people perceive the efficiency of local government, their level of trust in the authorities, and their satisfaction with the services provided. This qualitative data can offer insights into the lived experiences of people and how they interpret the effectiveness of governance.
    • Focus groups with local leaders: Gathering qualitative insights into how local officials and community leaders view governance practices, what challenges they face, and how they make decisions.
    • Case studies of specific governance projects: Documenting stories of local governance projects (e.g., building a community center or improving water supply) to understand the challenges faced in execution, the decisions made, and the social dynamics involved.

This qualitative data helps researchers understand the meaning and context of the quantitative findings, providing a richer, more nuanced understanding of what “efficiency” means in this local governance setting.

How Realism Integrates Mixed Methods:

• Realism sees both objective (quantitative) and subjective (qualitative) aspects of reality as valuable and complementary. The objective data from the quantitative approach gives researchers a broad, measurable sense of governance efficiency, while the qualitative insights help explain the why and how behind the numbers. This dual approach allows for a fuller picture of governance efficiency.
• For example, the quantitative data might show that a local government spends a significant portion of its budget on education and infrastructure, but the qualitative data from interviews might reveal that citizens feel that these projects are poorly executed due to a lack of transparency or coordination. This combination can lead to more actionable insights on improving governance efficiency.
• Additionally, the quantitative data might not capture the nuances of local governance practices, such as the informal power structures, local traditions, or governance challenges that may be central to the functioning of the community. The qualitative data, however, could uncover these hidden dynamics, helping to explain why certain governance initiatives succeed or fail.

Conclusion:

Realism’s ontological position supports mixed methods in social science research by acknowledging that the complexity of social phenomena, like local governance efficiency, cannot be captured by a single method alone. The combination of quantitative and qualitative methods allows researchers to uncover both the objective facts and the subjective experiences that shape our understanding of governance, ultimately leading to a more comprehensive and nuanced evaluation of its efficiency. Through this mixed-method approach, researchers can gain insights into both the observable performance metrics and the underlying social dynamics, helping to improve the overall effectiveness of governance strategies.