Paper Type
Completed Research Paper
Abstract
In this paper, a realist ontology is re-introduced that can be utilized to situate complex IS artifacts such as the Internet. We discuss how the issues of incommensurability arise in scientific and Information Systems theories as a result of a human motivation to construct artificially sustained divisions in reality. We also advocate a state of being for IS artifacts such as the Internet that enable engagement with an ever evolving being, in contrast to the subject-object manner of dealing with reality that rises out of human attempts at anthropomorphizing. We conclude by examining claims for simplicity in ontologies and offer a differing view. The paper is conceptual, and uses a philosophical-logical approach. It makes a contribution to the discipline of ontologies in the field of Information Systems by identifying an alternative approach.
Recommended Citation
Baloch, Fuad and Cusack, Brian, "On where the Internet is" (2013). AMCIS 2013 Proceedings. 2.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2013/ISPhilosophy/GeneralPresentations/2
On where the Internet is
In this paper, a realist ontology is re-introduced that can be utilized to situate complex IS artifacts such as the Internet. We discuss how the issues of incommensurability arise in scientific and Information Systems theories as a result of a human motivation to construct artificially sustained divisions in reality. We also advocate a state of being for IS artifacts such as the Internet that enable engagement with an ever evolving being, in contrast to the subject-object manner of dealing with reality that rises out of human attempts at anthropomorphizing. We conclude by examining claims for simplicity in ontologies and offer a differing view. The paper is conceptual, and uses a philosophical-logical approach. It makes a contribution to the discipline of ontologies in the field of Information Systems by identifying an alternative approach.