Let’s get real: new continental philosophy’s methodological imperative

ABSTRACT

This paper elucidates the implications of the ontological turn within continental philosophy for social researchers. In my literature review, I focus on the work of Žižek, Badiou, and Ferraris, and I identify three challenges which we must address. First, their work demands increasingly realist approaches to social research. Building on this, the second challenge is to find a methodology which can serve this realist approach; here, I argue that critique of the critical theory tradition is most appropriate. The third and final challenge is to identify appropriate concrete methods. I do so and then provide an example of how these methods could be applied in the study of sustainable food production. Ultimately, I argue that the most important intervention is an ethical one, as this tradition compels us to produce knowledge which benefits the comparatively disadvantaged in society. I conclude with specific implications for my own field of consumer research.

KEYWORDS:

• Ontology
• methodology
• philosophy of science
• realism
• critical theory
• interpretivism
• Badiou
• Ferraris
• Žižek

Notes on contributor

Amanda Earley is a Lecturer of Marketing, Politics and Culture at the University of Leicester. Her research focuses on the politics of markets, practices and subjectivities within consumer culture. She primarily does this work within the contexts of economic activism, food culture, social media, sustainable strategy and visual culture.