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Driven to abstraction? Critical realism and the search for the 'inner connection' of social phenomena

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  • Andrew Brown
  • Gary Slater
  • David A. Spencer

Abstract

This paper examines critically the method of abstraction offered by critical realism. Our main argument is that critical realism fails to articulate the synthetic side to abstraction. For this reason, the critical realist method is unable to capture the 'inner connection' of social phenomena. We argue that critical realism is prone to extend a method (partially) applicable to the local and specific level of analysis to the historical level. The paper develops a method of abstraction, 'systematic abstraction', that is appropriate to this historical level. We argue that systematic abstraction constitutes a radical addition to critical realism, one which challenges the fundamental precepts of the critical realist approach to abstraction. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Brown & Gary Slater & David A. Spencer, 2002. "Driven to abstraction? Critical realism and the search for the 'inner connection' of social phenomena," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 26(6), pages 773-788, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:26:y:2002:i:6:p:773-788
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Brown, 2013. "Methodological issues in theorising the financial, economic and social system: realistic and systematic abstraction," Working papers wpaper03, Financialisation, Economy, Society & Sustainable Development (FESSUD) Project.
    2. Andrew Mearman, 2006. "Critical realism in economics and open-systems ontology: A critique," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 64(1), pages 47-75.
    3. Lee, Frederic, 2012. "Critical realism, grounded theory, and theory construction in heterodox economics," MPRA Paper 40341, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Philip Arestis & Andrew Brown & Malcolm Sawyer, 2002. "Critical Realism and the Political Economy of the Euro," Method and Hist of Econ Thought 0209001, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Thomas Brenner & Claudia Werker, 2009. "Policy Advice Derived from Simulation Models," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(4), pages 1-2.
    6. Modell, Sven, 2017. "Critical realist accounting research: In search of its emancipatory potential," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 20-35.
    7. R. S. Dzarasov, 2024. "The Theory of Qualitative Heterogeneity of Resources of Academician Yu.V. Yaremenko in Light of the Classical School of Political Economy," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 35(6), pages 770-777, December.
    8. Thomas Brenner & Claudia Werker, 2007. "A Taxonomy of Inference in Simulation Models," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 30(3), pages 227-244, October.

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