PAUL RICÅ’UR: the impossibility of knowledge without assumptions

Abstract

This essay approaches reflexively Paul RicÅ“ur’s point of view on objectivity and subjectivity within social science research and its implications on the field of politics, ethics, morality and legality. In fact, the French philosopher by considering political discourse as very fragile and fallible, calls our attention over many scientistic pretentions of the so called “scienceâ€, its Scientifics and experts. For him, those claims hide in fact a particular worldview to be imposed as the sole and absolute and that is why RicÅ“ur calls for a reflexive and critical attitude to encourage dissent. As you can infer from RicÅ“ur’s thought, the credibility of the authority depends, partly, on the existence of spaces for critical voices could be heard and answered; otherwise, without such spaces, the credibility of the authority would be undermined. He believes that every democratic State must need a strong and healthy civil society and that fact is more evident in issues such as education, law and legitimacy.