On theoretical pragmatism in archaeology

0521454 - ARÚB 2020 RIV SK eng J - Journal Article
Hladík, Marek
On theoretical pragmatism in archaeology.
Musaica archaeologica. Roč. 4, č. 2 (2019), s. 195-213. ISSN 2453-8612
Institutional support: RVO:68081758
Keywords : modernism * postmodernism * neomaterialism * historical narration * interaction * causality * methodology of archaeological research * structural equations modelling
OECD category: Archaeology
Method of publishing: Open access
https://fphil.uniba.sk/fileadmin/fif/katedry_pracoviska/karch/MusArch/4_2/5_Hladik_Final_Web.pdf

The considerations presented in this paper aim to reflect on the question what is the primary archaeological methodology in the current post-postmodern theoretical discourse, but are not limited to the perspective of archaeology in Central Europe. These considerations are aimed at presenting a theoretical and methodological concept reflecting the recent changes in thinking, which could also be a basis of viable research. Viable research means that a scientific theory underlying research questions is supported by a functional methodology. This paper discusses the phenomena of archaeological theory that play a primary role in creating the concept of “theoretical pragmatism” (modern, postmodern, neomaterialism, historical narration, interaction and causality). The theoretical foundations of this concept emphasise the importance of narrative logic in the research process, relativise the contraposition of structure and phenomenon, relativise the antagonism between induction and deduction, consider historical narration as a reflection of the essential structure of the past and interactions as real representations. The final section of the paper presents a methodological procedure, which is based on the concept of theoretical pragmatism and which we apply in research. The research methodology is therefore a combination of explanation, inductive and deductive methods, logical reasoning or mathematical modelling and narrative interpretation.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0306072