The case for empiricism: Clarifying fundamental issues in communication theory

Perceived difficulties inherent in logical empiricism cited by “action theorists” ignore interpretations and modifications of empirical reasoning. Although it is highly unlikely that invariant laws of a universal nature will ever be discovered about any kind of phenomenon, critics of conventional science often cite this as an example of the deficiencies of empiricism without being aware of more recent interpretations or modifications of empirical reasoning. The authors focus on recent critiques of empiricism, which are frequently cited as a basis for support of interpretive approaches. They maintain that contemporary empirical reasoning has much to offer that subjectivist thought does not. The present state of communication research probably does not allow us to venture into hermeneutics, because of the incomplete nature of what is presently known about communication processes and effects. Examining levels of language and explanation helps us solve logical inconsistencies that have appeared to present philosophical problems in the past.