Performativity of Theory, Arbitrary Conventions, and Possible Worlds: A Reality Check

Teppo Felin () and Nicolai J. Foss ()
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Teppo Felin: Marriott School, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
Nicolai J. Foss: Center for Strategic Management and Globalization, Copenhagen Business School, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark, and Department of Strategy and Management, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, N-5045 Bergen, Norway

Organization Science, 2009, vol. 20, issue 3, 676-678

Abstract: We argue that Ferraro, Pfeffer, and Sutton build on a scientifically problematic conception of the relationship between theory and social reality. Specifically, the performativity perspective that they build on makes tenuous assumptions about the role that theories, whether true or not, play in strongly constructing social reality, but the perspective fundamentally ignores central matters related to human nature and the boundaries of possibility. We argue for a more realistic approach to theory building and social science, one that recognizes the role that true theories play in helping us understand and explain reality, but also in turn shaping that reality given this better theoretical understanding.

Keywords: performativity; economics; philosophy of social science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:20:y:2009:i:3:p:676-678

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