Dr Page,

<<I like your description of research as seeking information "which conforms with reality". Your citing of the Greek word for truth tells me that you may have a philosophical bent, and thus you may be interested in the stream of contemporary philosophy, critical realism, which emphasizes this.>>

I am a critical realist in my theory of knowing and pursued it in association with my university PhD examination (in New Testament) of the presuppositions concerning Jesus' resurrection used by John Dominic Crossan.

For the benefit of those on this forum who don't know what we are talking about with critical realism, it is a theory on the process of how people know things. How do I know my house consists of some HardiePlank weatherboard, tiles and carpet? I acknowledge that the reality of the thing known - the tiles - is something other than OzSpen, the knower. Thus it is realism.

I realise that the only access I have to the thing known - the tiles - lies in appropriate dialogue between / about the thing known (the tiles) and OzSpen, the knower. Thus, it is 'critical'. Since I can't talk to the tiles to know what they are made of and to inquire of their durability, I need to talk with the seller of tiles.

Thus, I am able to critically examine reality. This knowledge (e.g. tiles) is separate from me, the knower. It is not independent of me. The exception, self-knowledge, proves the rule but that's a complex case to demonstrate (Wright1992:35).

Critical realism is separate from other theories such as:
+ Positivism, i.e. we can have definite knowledge of certain things.
+ Naïve realism, i.e. I can know things straight, without explanation.
+ Phenomenalism, i.e. I can only be really sure of my own sense-data.
+ Etc.

Dr Page,

<<On the importance of hearing both sides of an argument, I like Gandhi's dictum that it is always important to see the truth in your opponent's argument. Or J.S.Mill, where he says that if you only know your own argument, you don't even know that.>>

Those are excellent examples of the need to have listening ears and understanding of the arguments of both sides.

The fellow whose teaching I examined in my doctorate claimed to not read his opponents. This created considerable problems when he came to his conclusions. He did read some opponents as he debated them.

<<Good question about where to access standards. That's a PhD in itself, but a starting point are Codes of Conduct and (for public universities) published standards by relevant State Government authorities.>>

That only pushes the standard for standards further back. From where were the Codes of Conduct derived? What drove the values for choice of certain codes over others.

As for published standards of state governments, we have the same dilemma. From where did those standards originate?

At some point we need to stop and consider: Are there basic standards on which this nation was built that apply to state governments and universities?

Or do universities create their own values and follow Frank Sinatra's dictum, 'I did it my way'?

Hi again Ozspen: Sounds like a great thesis topic. Did you, perchance, complete this thru the University of Pretoria? I've published on Pannenberg and critical realism, although not as in-depth as your own work. Hopefully this link will work - https://eprints.qut.edu.au/3612/. Universal standards? Wow. In my own PhD I had a go at articulate an ethical basis for peace education, and I came up with virtue ethics, consequentialist ethics, conservative political ethics (interesting one), ethics of care, and aesthetic ethics. Don't know if that counts as a universalist basis for ethics.

critical realism,
Dr James Page,
Would that be the kind of scenario if the average Academic were to be required to survive on income based on their merit ?

Dr Page,

<<I've published on Pannenberg and critical realism, although not as in-depth as your own work. Hopefully this link will work - https://eprints.qut.edu.au/3612/. Universal standards? Wow. In my own PhD I had a go at articulate an ethical basis for peace education, and I came up with virtue ethics, consequentialist ethics, conservative political ethics (interesting one), ethics of care, and aesthetic ethics. Don't know if that counts as a universalist basis for ethics.>>

Yours was a challenging published article. Do do have a link to your entire dissertation online? I'd be interested in reading it, along with your conclusions.

This is a link to my dissertation completed after 5 years of research in 2015 in the New Testament Department of the University of Pretoria, 'Crossan and the resurrection of Jesus : rethinking presuppositions, methods and models.
Available at: http://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/50510

individual,

<<critical realism, Dr James Page,
Would that be the kind of scenario if the average Academic were to be required to survive on income based on their merit?>>

Geoff Eaton stated: 'Critical realists propose an ontology [nature of beings] that assumes that there exists a reality “out there” independent of observers'.

This has practical value in many jobs, especially in the human services and pastoral sectors.

When you consider the nature of human beings, do you take the view that people are nothing but fleshly matter?

Or do you consider they have a dimension of reality (soul, spirit, mind, conscience) that is independent of what you observe? If you met me in person would you see my soul or conscience or would their existence be separate from what you observe?

These are some of the aspects of human beings that a critical realist examines.

What impact does that have on my life in the here and now? You'll encounter it when you try to console parents who have lost their son in an horrific accident. What is it inside them that causes these emotions to overflow?

In 34 years as a counsellor and counselling manager, I was pleased that I understood a critical realist ontology so I could bring comfort and compassion to the grieving.

What causes me to reach out to a homeless person living on the streets in my suburb? I understand people are more than the physical. This is a critical realist understanding.

For me, it also comes with a renewed mind through Christ's eternal life.