Modes of Inquiry II: Philosophical Research and the Philosophy of Research So What is Art? Kimberly C. Walls October 30, 2007 MODULE 4 Is Philosophy Research? Phelps, et al Rainbow & Froelich Heller & O Connor Music Education Philosophy Journals and Symposia 1
Schwadron (1973, & 1984) found three types of philosophical research in American music education research: Theoretical studies Synthetic studies Applicative studies Harre perception, conception, and imagination are components of scientific research and theory. (Read page 125.) Music education philosophy topics: analysis of compositions process of creating music musical performances meaning and values of music educatio nature of music 2
Inquiry is systematic and it examines concepts, beliefs, theories, and the assumptions of activities. Philosophical justifications or rationales for music View of music ed. from the perspective of aesthetics Specific aspects of aesthetic theory studied to illuminate the place of aesthetic thought in music ed. What is needed are: Examination of preferences and taste as related to music abilities and achievement Characteristics of leisure behavior in relation to general principles of socialization (appreciation) Sociopsychological aspects of schooling with musical creativity in the schools Nature of music as work vs. nature of music as hobby (teacher-student relationship) Relationship of learner/teacher/music 3
Branches of philosophy Rainbow & Froelich (pp. 129-130): Logic: questions of good or correct reasoning Epistemology: the nature and origin of knowledge Metaphysics: the nature of ultimate reality Ontology is the study of being and cosmology is the study of the structure of the universe. Ethics or axiology: morals and human values including aesthestics ( artistic values, perception, and judgments ) and politics ( civil-social values) Criticisms of published philosophical inquiries thinking-while-writing instead of logic Definition of terms Stepwise logic Fallacies of Irrelevant Premises Fallacies of Ambiguity Irrelevant Premises Force Abusive Circumstantial Ignorance Pity Public Authority Hasty generalization False cause Begging the question 4
Ambiguity Equivocation Composition Division Research-related Philosophies Logical Positivism traditional scientific method experimentation. All knowledge must come from human experience (senses). The goal of positivists is to study objects in an objective, unbiased way 5
Rationalism abstract reasoning (beyond the senses) through language Logic Perception/experience is not necessary Deductive reasoning Spiritual truth can be based only on reason, not emotion. Two types of logic: formal (propositional) informal (dialectic). phenomenological analysis (object related to subject) heuristic-hermeneutic Propositional logic consists of arguments comprised of proposition Truth of propositions relies on factuality based on observation, experiment, analysis, and inference. Propositions called premises proceed the conclusion proposition. The conclusion becomes the first proposition of the next argument. 6
Old Definitions: Deductive reasoning is from general to specific (read examples R&F p. 139). Inductive reasoning is from part to whole (specific to generalization). More current: Induction is more open and allows revision based on new facts. (R&F, p. 140) Logic. Truth and validity are two terms important in logic. The validity of an argument depends on the truth of premises and conclusion, and logical connections. (read examples R&F, p. 140-141) 7
Dialectic reasoning presents Thesis Antithesis Synthesis Logic requires terms must be defined Language must be clear and unambiguou Three types of definitions Synonymous definitions Operational definitions Definitions by genus and difference 8
Phenomenological discourse Epoche or transcendental reduction Eidetic reduction Hermeneutics search for meaning through various points of view ISMs 9
Postmodernists Truth is relative Realists Theory is evident in all scientific inquiry. Two music education philosophies aesthetic philosophy praxial philosophy. 10
Steps of philosophical research methodology (R&F, p. 149) Describe your own belief system and view of the field of music education. Develop a research purpose and rationale. Identify aspects (research problems) inherent to the stated purpose. Discuss the literature pertinent to the research purpose and rationale. Develop the formal line of argumentation. In propositional reasoning, include premises and subsequent conclusions. In dialectic reasoning, include all theses, antitheses, and syntheses, and get guidelines as to when to terminate the process of argumentation. Define all terms. Collect evidence pertinent to each argument (use only primary sources). Separate supportive evidence from the pool of all evidence. Develop a final conclusion in light of the supportive evidence in each argument. Identify new questions that emerged as a result of Step 9. (i) 11
Reporting Philosophical Research (R&F, p. 150) Present steps 1-4 (a-d) Present each argument, its supportive evidence, and contradictory evidence in its own section Present summary of steps and final conclusion and new questions. 12