What are Ontology and Epistemology? Essay -- Philosophy, Truth

What are ontology and epistemology and why are they important in social science research Introduction The study of any particular science involves embracing particular and specific ontology, epistemology and methodologies that are different from each other. Ontology is the concept that defines and explains the essential types of truth (Blaikie 2009). Every field of science constitutes its own ontology and in most cases two types of ontology exists: formal ontology and domain ontology (Blaikie 2009). Formal ontology type of research always postulates something general related to reality while on the other hand domain ontology postulate something specific with regard to different types of truths (Blaikie 2009). On its part epistemology constitute a science concept that defines how human and the general population of the world know and reason the particular truth. The two concepts are differentiated by particular assumptions that are associated with each of them. For instance assumptions associated with ontology include: shallow realist, conceptual realist, cautious realist, depth real ist and idealist (Blaikie 2009). On the other hand assumptions related to epistemology include: empiricism, rationalism, falsificationism, neo-realism and constructionism (Blaikie 2009). Therefore the purpose of this essay will be to define objectivism and inteprativism as related to ontology, define positivism and interpretavism as related to epistemology, explain how ontology and epistemology are linked and how they influence each other, before lastly looking at how important ontology and epistemology are. Objectivism and interprativism in ontology Blaike (2000) asserted that ontology to involve, â€Å"claims and assumptions that are made about natur... ...oherent research practice functions to collect and communicate information about the world, a scenario enabled by key concepts of ontology and epistemology. Conclusion Social reality in general is viewed as a complex of causal relations between events that are depicted as patchwork of relationships between variables. Generally, causes of human behavior are regarded as being external to the individual and knowledge is seen to be derived from sensory experience by means of experimental or comparative analysis and concepts and generalizations are summaries of particular observations. In reality, claims have been made about what is observed with the senses is what is real and that scientific laws are similar with empirical regularities. In summary, key concepts of ontology and epistemology have played important role in shaping and guiding social research processes.