Social Management: Epistemology Beyond Paradigms

Abstract The objective of this theoretical essay is to propose a new path for the epistemological debate in the field of social management that goes beyond the paradigmatic boundaries. Based on studies that deal with social management from different perspectives, a comparison was made between models based on the thesis of incommensurability by Thomas Kuhn – such as the Gibson Burrell and Gareth Morgan diagram of sociological paradigms – and an alternative to break away from the paradigmatic mentality: the circle of epistemic matrices. The study demonstrated that the logic of incommensurable paradigms is not adequate to guide social management studies due to its complexity and plurality. This was proven by the identification of multiple sociological approaches adopted in field studies, including hybrid approaches. In this sense, the circle of epistemic matrices proved to be more appropriate, because instead of impenetrable boundaries, it allows transit between the matrices and enables a dialogue between different sociological approaches.

摘要
本理论性论文旨在为社会管理领域的认识论辩论提出一条超越范式边界的新路径。本研究基于从不同视角探讨社会管理的相关成果，对基于托马斯·库恩（Thomas Kuhn）不可通约性（incommensurability）论题的模型——例如吉布森·伯勒尔（Gibson Burrell）与加雷思·摩根（Gareth Morgan）的社会学范式图示——与一种摆脱范式思维的替代方案：认知矩阵圈（circle of epistemic matrices）进行了比较分析。研究表明，由于社会管理领域的复杂性与多元性，不可通约范式的逻辑并不足以指导该领域的研究，这一点可通过实地研究中所采用的多种社会学研究路径（包括混合研究路径）得到验证。就此而言，认知矩阵圈被证明更为适用：它并未设置不可逾越的边界，而是允许在各矩阵间进行切换，并为不同社会学研究路径之间的对话提供了可能。