Location
Seminary Commons
Start Date
5-2-2016 10:30 AM
End Date
5-2-2016 11:00 AM
Description
Common understandings of “objective” research include values such as “factual” and “interpretive neutrality”. There is a growing consensus that the person doing the research, counts as much as if not more in the interpretive outcomes than the “facts” alone, and that “interpretive neutrality” is not possible. The poster explores an alternative framing of “objective research” as the grounded, intentional and savvy analysis of an “object” in conversation with a community of peers/experts for the purpose of creating knowledge. Following Ferraris’ ontology, three classes of “objects” exist. 1. Natural objects: exist whether or not a person notices them. Example: table, tree. Seminary application: Archaeological artifacts. 2. Ideal objects: exist even though only a mind can conceive of them. Example: triangle. Seminary application: Systematic theology. 3. Social objects: only exist in a social context. Example: documents (authored by a person for a reader in a specific context for a purpose). Seminary application: Biblical Exegesis, Church History, Christian Ministry, Missiology. Thus, within the Seminary curriculum, research assignments could be considered objective while still engaging the full hermeneutical persona of the author. The poster concludes with a discussion of the function of library resources in each class of objective research.
Objective Research? In the Seminary?
Seminary Commons
Common understandings of “objective” research include values such as “factual” and “interpretive neutrality”. There is a growing consensus that the person doing the research, counts as much as if not more in the interpretive outcomes than the “facts” alone, and that “interpretive neutrality” is not possible. The poster explores an alternative framing of “objective research” as the grounded, intentional and savvy analysis of an “object” in conversation with a community of peers/experts for the purpose of creating knowledge. Following Ferraris’ ontology, three classes of “objects” exist. 1. Natural objects: exist whether or not a person notices them. Example: table, tree. Seminary application: Archaeological artifacts. 2. Ideal objects: exist even though only a mind can conceive of them. Example: triangle. Seminary application: Systematic theology. 3. Social objects: only exist in a social context. Example: documents (authored by a person for a reader in a specific context for a purpose). Seminary application: Biblical Exegesis, Church History, Christian Ministry, Missiology. Thus, within the Seminary curriculum, research assignments could be considered objective while still engaging the full hermeneutical persona of the author. The poster concludes with a discussion of the function of library resources in each class of objective research.