In my view, the distortions caused by the strict compartmentalization of interrelated realities and attempts to make social sciences and humanities look like natural sciences through a ‘sciencification’ process with a view to attaching a sense of objectivity and “validity” to the field are partly responsible for the inferior position that most of the subjects in social sciences and humanities occupy in the hierarchy of disciplines. I emphasize the need to go beyond this strict compartmentalization and problematize the ongoing ‘sciencification’ process in order to liberate the field of social sciences and humanities and according it its due place. In my view, this goal could be achieved by taking an interdisciplinary approach to the realities that social sciences and humanities deal with. The increased accountability that such an approach ensures by creating a context in which not only the claims that are made in different disciplines, but also the fundamental assumptions and “ground rules” of those disciplines could be problematized forms the foundation for a realistic understanding of the realities in question.
Why are Interdisciplinary Studies Important in the Field of Social Sciences and Humanities?1/25/2012
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Nandaka MaduRANGA Kalugampitiya is a faculty member (Department of English) of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He earned his MA and PhD from Ohio University, USA.
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