What Would an Informant Tell Me after Reading My Paper? On the
Theoretical Significance of Ethical Commitment and Political
Transparency in Symmetrical Practice of Studying Religion(s)

J 2015

What Would an Informant Tell Me after Reading My Paper? On the Theoretical Significance of Ethical Commitment and Political Transparency in Symmetrical Practice of Studying Religion(s)

FUJDA, Milan

Basic information

Original name

What Would an Informant Tell Me after Reading My Paper? On the Theoretical Significance of Ethical Commitment and Political Transparency in Symmetrical Practice of Studying Religion(s)

Authors

FUJDA, Milan (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Religio : revue pro religionistiku, Brno, Česká společnost pro religionistiku o.s. 2015, 1210-3640

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Digitální knihovna FF MU

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/15:00084500

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

study of religion(s); research methodology; research ethics; politics of research; reflexivity; principle of symmetry; ethnography; postcolonialism; management of uncertainty; democracy; risk society

Abstract

V originále

This article introduces the methodological principle of symmetry as developed in science and technology studies (STS). However simple in its formulation, this principle is unexpectedly complex in practice and has farreaching consequences. Adherence to the principle of symmetry in the study of religion(s) is one promising avenue through which practical solutions to many theoretical and methodological problems may be formulated in response to postmodern and postcolonial critique of the study of religion(s) as well as of the modern scientific practice in general. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the promises of the symmetrical approach, the ways of its practical enactment, the complications of this enactment, and some solutions for these complications. The arguments and demonstrations provided here show that: (1) demarcating the research field of the study of religion(s) through the concept “religion” in itself creates asymmetries which contradict objective empirical and theoretical study; (2) the practical enactment of the principle demands taking important ethical and political decisions in order to prepare the practical conditions for research and analysis; (3) making these decisions and maintaining these conditions is necessary in order to achieve theoretical objectivity and build good and transparent theories; and (4) being faithful to these decisions during the process of data analysis is extremely complicated and can only be more or less successfully achieved on the basis of (a) high degree of ethical commitments towards the participants which empower them politically in relation to the researcher and the research itself, and (b) by analysing the process of data collection and analysis in exactly the same way (i.e. symmetrically) as the activities of all other actors engaged in the research. In this sense modernist ideas concerning moral and political disengagement as the condition for neutrality, objectivity and truth are reversed.

Links

MUNI/A/1148/2014, interní kód MU

Name: Inovativní teoretické a metodologické perspektivy v religionistice (Acronym: ITMEPRE)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Files attached

2_Religio_23-2015-1_6.pdf

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Citovat

FUJDA, Milan. What Would an Informant Tell Me after Reading My Paper? On the Theoretical Significance of Ethical Commitment and Political Transparency in Symmetrical Practice of Studying Religion(s). Religio : revue pro religionistiku. Brno: Česká společnost pro religionistiku o.s., 2015, vol. 23, No 1, p. 57-86. ISSN 1210-3640.

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   language = {eng},
   issn = {1210-3640},
   journal = {Religio : revue pro religionistiku},
   title = {What Would an Informant Tell Me after Reading My Paper? On the Theoretical Significance of Ethical Commitment and Political Transparency in Symmetrical Practice of Studying Religion(s)},
   url = {http://hdl.handle.net/11222.digilib/134554},
   volume = {23},
   year = {2015}
}

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N2  - This article introduces the methodological principle of symmetry as developed in science and technology studies (STS). However simple in its formulation, this principle is unexpectedly complex in practice and has farreaching consequences. Adherence to the principle of symmetry in the study of religion(s) is one promising avenue through which practical solutions to many theoretical and methodological problems may be formulated in response to postmodern and postcolonial critique of the study of religion(s) as well as of the modern scientific practice in general. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the promises of the symmetrical approach, the ways of its practical enactment, the complications of this enactment, and some solutions for these complications. The arguments and demonstrations provided here show that: (1) demarcating the research field of the study of religion(s) through the concept “religion” in itself creates asymmetries which contradict objective empirical and theoretical study; (2) the practical enactment of the principle demands taking important ethical and political decisions in order to prepare the practical conditions for research and analysis; (3) making these decisions and maintaining these conditions is necessary in order to achieve theoretical objectivity and build good and transparent theories; and (4) being faithful to these decisions during the process of data analysis is extremely complicated and can only be more or less successfully achieved on the basis of (a) high degree of ethical commitments towards the participants which empower them politically in relation to the researcher and the research itself, and (b) by analysing the process of data collection and analysis in exactly the same way (i.e. symmetrically) as the activities of all other actors engaged in the research. In this sense modernist ideas concerning moral and political disengagement as the condition for neutrality, objectivity and truth are reversed.
ER  -

FUJDA, Milan. What Would an Informant Tell Me after Reading My Paper? On the Theoretical Significance of Ethical Commitment and Political Transparency in Symmetrical Practice of Studying Religion(s). \textit{Religio : revue pro religionistiku}. Brno: Česká společnost pro religionistiku o.s., 2015, vol.~23, No~1, p.~57-86. ISSN~1210-3640.

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