Giant with Feet of Clay: Leo Strauss’s Criticism And the Insecurity of Quantitative Research’s Body of Knowledge?

Authors

  • Ekkapollanut Nuttapattanun Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University, Sanam Chandra Palace Campus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v48i1.760

Keywords:

Leo Strauss, scientism, objectivity

Abstract

Humans are ordinarily afraid of uncertainty in life. They therefore hope to be able to predict future happenings so as to be prepared to deal with the problems which might arise. It is such that they could ensure a good future. Accordingly, “science” is called into service as it has a strict methodology and, it is believed, is able to foresee and predict natural happenings of the future. The scientific method thus became popular. However, when it came to be applied in a variety of disciplines in the form of quantitative research, with the use of statistics in testing hypotheses, the much praised principles of “science”, such as neutrality and objectivity, became blemished. This was when it became impossible for researchers, who after all are ordinary human beings, to completely avoid being biased in line with their own preferences. The scientific method and its practice thus became out of sync in the testing of hypotheses and consequently in arriving at research results. The most that could be done was to arrive at “statistical probability”, in fact prediction on the basis of uncertainty. However, present day technological advances have lessened the problem. It is therefore time to reconsider Leo Strauss’s defamatory criticism that modern body of knowledge is like a giant with feet of clay.

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Published

16-09-2022

How to Cite

Nuttapattanun, Ekkapollanut. 2022. “Giant with Feet of Clay: Leo Strauss’s Criticism And the Insecurity of Quantitative Research’s Body of Knowledge?”. Chulalongkorn University Journal of Social Sciences 48 (1). Bangkok, Thailand:149-70. https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v48i1.760.

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Section

Research Articles