Sociology Essays | Social Constructionism
and Critical Realism
As explained
earlier, one of the main criticisms of social constructionism
is that it downplays the reality of the environmental issue.
Alan Irwin strongly objects to this criticism stating that
it is extremely difficult to locate work from constructionists
that fails to acknowledge the importance of natural and material
factors.
Irwin follows this objection by quoting from various writers
of constructionist accounts such as Yearley;
“[T]o show that a social problem has been social constructed
is not to undermine or debunk it; both valid and invalid social
problem claims have to be constructed. The detachment required
for social science should not become an excuse for cynical
inaction. (Yearley, 1991 p.186).
Not surprisingly, Hannigan (1995) also goes on the offensive
by stating to claim an environmental issue should not necessarily
be taken at face value as an ‘established scientific
fact’ but rather something which is open to the social
construction of scientific knowledge, is not denying its existence
altogether. Hannigan argues that interpretations of ‘natural
effects’ can vary according to a number of things such
as interests and cultural background, which is more likely
to be the case when the effects are not directly experienced
but visible only through scientific data.
Along the same lines as the criticism that social constructionism
denies the reality of environmental issues, is the claim that
taking a constructionist position promotes environmental quietism
- the apparent reluctance by constructionists to suggest any
possible solutions to environmental problems. Irwin (2001)
recognises this difficulty yet states it may not be the sociologist’s
responsibility to do so. Sociologists are not natural scientists,
geologists or biologists and so if they were to sit about
discussing ways to save the planet, perhaps people of these
particular disciplines may have a thing or two to say about
it! As Irwin says “ there is nothing ignoble about sociologists
bringing their best analytical skills to bear and then handing
over to other parties” (2001, p170).
Please note: The above essays and dissertations were written by students and then submitted to us to display and help others. Thanks to all the students who have submitted their work to us.
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