Overcoming Hermeticism in Organization Theory: An Alternative to Paradigm Incommensurability

Abstract

The paper discusses a major logical problem in recent organizational analysis the assumption that while paradigms are incommensurable, movement between them is nonproblematic, i.e., writers suggest paradigms are exclusive yet advocate interparadigm research (Ritzer, 1975; Burrell and Morgan, 1979; Pondy and Boje, 1981; Morgan, 1986). To make sense of this, and to establish an argument for paradigm mediation, we return to the origins of the debate in Kuhn's philosophy of science. In finding much equivocation in Kuhn, and especially in his debate with Popper, we draw upon the "later" Wittgenstein for facilitating Giddens' "relativity without relativism. " The analysis rejects both Kuhn's (1962) "strong" thesis of incommensurability and Popper's (1970) notion of liberal transions, in favor of a middle ground through Wittgenstein's (1953) "language-game of everyday life. "For organizational analysis, the paper argues for being "trained into" new paradigms, given the premise that "unorganized experience cannot order perception" (Phillips, 1977).