This study describes, as a single systemic model of inquiry, the context common to conscious experience of the phenomenon of inquiry. Data are the published texts of selected contemporary writers relevant to the question. The problem is to define a common systemic structure of inquiry in a context of consciousness. Research verifies that a specific structure is common to these writers and that their respective views are converging on this same structure.
Identifying a common structure involves reducing the textual descriptions of the writers to their systemically relevant essentials. Defining the essential elements and describing a reduction method depends heavily on theory of metaphor and metaphorical evolution. A history of the metaphorical structure relevant to inquiry is described and this structure is used as a basis for finding structure in the selected texts. Texts researched include evolutionary biology, sociology, psychology (phenomenology), and philosophy. This work replicates that done by Talcott Parsons in experimentally describing a voluntaristic theory of action. A wholistic theory of inquiry is described using the same systemic scheme.
The metaphysical approaches to inquiry of realism and idealism have converged on a common theoretical structure for describing inquiry. Commonalities emphasize systemic structure comprising the elements of function: purpose, process, content, and control. It has been necessary to distinguish between affectual and instrumental purposes, and between organic and mechanical function. The ontological essentiality of the structure reveals a necessary logical relationship between function, systemicity, wholeness, and rationality in human understanding. Continuing research in philosophy is crucial to expanding our understanding of the ontological and epistemological structural essentials of consciousness.
Human inquiry during the last century has specialized in the material realm of realism, objective description, and mechanical explanation. A wholistic theory of inquiry does not discount the contributions of realism-based science or idealism-based philosophy, but expands the horizons of each to include the other. Where mathematics provides essential tools for mechanical explanation, organic explanation still lacks abstract structural tools for describing conscious organic, including human, behavior. The intent of a wholistic theory of inquiry is to provide conceptual tools that support disciplined inquiry into conscious behavior.
Table of Contents
Part I - The Empirical Theory of Inquiry Chapter 1 - Introduction The Problem - Mind/Body Dualism Theory and Fact - A Systemic View Anomalies Ontology, Epistemology, and Methodology Relevance and Structure of Ideas Defining a "Fact" The Role of Phenomenology Chapter 2 - Theory of Inquiry A Meta-Model for Describing Inquiry Functionalism Realism Idealism Individualism/collectivism Justification for the Meta-Model Integrated Ontological Domains Chapter 3 - Historical Views of Inquiry Defining Metaphor Contribution of the Study of Metaphor to a Theory of Inquiry A Conventional Interpretation of Metaphorical Evolution Specifying a Fundamental Metaphorical Structure Graphic Portrayal of the Structure Convergence of the Metaphorical Structures Evidence in Support of a Single Structure Integration of Structural Content with Structural Process An Advanced Interpretation of Metaphorical Evolution Primacy of Consciousness Perspective of History Substantiating the Advanced Interpretation Part II Emergence of a Wholistic Theory of Inquiry from Realism Chapter 4 Biological Science Evolutionary Biology Sociobiology (Wilson, 1998) Summary of Sociobiology Chapter 5 Sociology Action and Instrumentality Lemkow (1990) The Wholeness Principle Quentin Skinner, 1985, The Return of Grand Theory Discussion Conclusions Postrel, 1998, The Future and Its Enemies Summary of Evidence from the Realistic Perspective Part III Emergence of a Wholistic Theory of Inquiry from Idealism Chapter 6 Psychology Phenomenological Integration of Psychological Conceptualizations Review of the Material - Introspectionism Description of the Method Evaluation of Concepts Conclusions Review of the Material - Cognitive Psychology Description of the Method Evaluation of Concepts Conclusions Review of the Material - Phenomenological Psychology Description of the Method Application of Method Evaluation of Concepts Conclusions Discussion Chapter 7 Philosophy Models of Consciousness Systematic Analysis of Wilber's Sex, Ecology, Spirituality Structure in Wilber's "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality" Transcendence in Wilber's Sex, Ecology, Spirituality Part IV Conclusion Chapter 8 Empirically Verified Conclusions Summary of a Rational Structure of Inquiry Verified Conclusions Chapter 9 Tentative Methodological Implications Wholeness and Systemic Theory The Rational Structure of Inquiring Systems Wholeness and Inquiring Systems The Ontological Status of Wholistic Theory Differentiation and Integration of Rational Structures The Role of Philosophy Bibliography Appendix A Giorgi, A. (1974a) Giorgi, A. (1974b) Giorgi, A. (1975) Giorgi, A. (1982) Giorgi, A. (1984) Giorgi, A. (1985) Giorgi, A. (1990) Giorgi, A. (1992a) Giorgi, A. (1992b) Giorgi, A. (1992c) Appendix B Integration of Giorgi Text Appendix C Comparison of Structures - Giorgi vs. Gurwitsch