Leisure Science, Dominant Paradigms, and Philosophy: An Introduction

Abstract

This paper provides the framework for the papers that follow which address issues surrounding leisure science, dominant paradigms, and philosophy. In this introduction, an overview is given about philosophy of science and its importance in the practice of leisure research. The intent of this introduction and the following papers is not to advocate for one paradigm over another or to provide a further critique of leisure research. Rather, the intent is to expand scholars' thinking about the pluralism of theory and method that ought to guide leisure research. Leisure researchers can no longer afford to avoid an examination and evaluation of the philosophy which has and will guide future inquiry.

KEYWORDS:

• Science
• leisure
• paradigm
• interpretive science
• method
• philosophy