Journeying and the experiential gaze in research: Theorizing as a form of knowing

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the implications of the ideas of journeying and the experiential gaze for research practice. We do so by drawing first upon Plato's allegory of the Cave as a representation of the journey of the philosopher to see reality, invisible and unknown, but constituting the underlying truth of what we experience through our senses. We use this as a metaphor for research as a journey of discovery. Recognizing that, for some, ancient philosophy may not provide the most convincing model for a consideration of research practice, we suggest that a parallel process is evident in the approach of the eminent British psychoanalyst, Wilfred Bion. We suggest that this metaphor offers a basis for understanding theorizing as a form of knowing that, while absent from a large proportion of modern scientific discourse, is again emerging in some recent developments in organizational research.

Keywords:

• research
• philosophy
• theorizing
• mimesis
• theoria
• contemplation