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On the Vanpools' “Scientific” Postprocessualism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Philip J. Arnold III  and
Brian S. Wilkens
Philip J. Arnold III
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Loyola University of Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan, Chicago, IL 60626
Brian S. Wilkens
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Loyola University of Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan, Chicago, IL 60626
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Abstract

Recently, VanPool and VanPool (1999) propose that postprocessual archaeology can be construed as a scientific practice if archaeologists would simply adopt a ,realistic view- of science. We argue that this ,realistic view- actually misrepresents science and we question the VanPools' attempt to reduce the dynamic practice of science to a series of static traits. We also affirm the incompatibility of the respective confirmation strategies employed by the postprocessual and processual programs.

Résumé

Résumé

En su publicación reciente, VanPool y VanPool (1999) proponen que se puede considerar como cientlfica la arqueologia postprocesual, si sólo los arqueólogos adoptan una “perspectiva realistica” de la ciencia. Respondemos que dicha perspectivas en realidad,falsifica la ciencia. Por eso, su discusián como un vehículo de reconciliación entre la arqueologiaprocesual y la arqueología postprocesual no es productiva. Nuestra respuesta enfatiza algunos problemas de la caracterización de la ciencia advocada por los autores y niega el valor de presentar la práctica de la ciencia como una série de características estáticas.

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Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 66 , Issue 2 , April 2001 , pp. 361 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2001

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