O empirijskoj i normativnoj političkoj teoriji
Empirical and Normative Political Theory

Summary/Abstract: When the scientific researcher discovers a rule, he does not find himself faced with a dilemma as does the researcher of society. The physicist, for example, on discovering the orbit of an electron around the nucleus of some clement will not worry about whether electrons should orbit in that way or not, whether that is good or bad, etc. The question of how should it be docs not worry him, he is completely satisfied with the answer to the question how is it. And even if the question how should it be arises, let's say. how should the structure of the aluminum atom look, in giving a reply he will be helped by empirical cognition. Thus, the structure of the aluminum atom should be the way we have established that it is, as it is. However, when a researcher of society reaches an empirical cognition, let us say he establishes the way in which self-management works, he can also ask himself, is the information he has obtained good or bad, or, should self-management work in that way or not. The researcher of society does not usually come to a stop with the results he has obtained. He tries to explain the results obtained by giving them a meaning. In explaining empirical facts it is possible to take several different paths. So, for example, it is possible to start from the aims. If the aim of self-management is the participation of all in the making of decisions then the empirical facts which speak of how just a small number of people make decisions, mean that self-management does not work, considering the aims that have been set. However, it is possible to explain empirical facts in relation to a certain theory. For instance, let us suppose that the theory emphasizes the fact that self-management is a long-term path for the introduction of which it is necessary to ensure a large number of pre-conditions; in this case empirical facts which speak of a weaker participation may be explained as being relatively good. It is also possible to explain empirical facts by means of comparison. Information taken from different periods in history may be compared (historical-comparative method), information from different social structures may also be compared and it is also possible to make a comparison of information obtained from the same society. It is usually considered that the discovery of the causes of a certain phenomenon constitutes a true scientific explanation. However, one virtually never remains on one explanation of social phenomena. For example, if we have truly established that self-management is working badly, this represents good empirical facts, but not the reality with which we may be satisfied. An empirical theory should be based on reality. It is a good theory if objective reality and its conceptual interpretation coincide. The evaluation of the position we have reached through empirical research is made on the basis of normative theory. The position which we have, therefore, established is the better, the more it coincides with the aims we have set. Therefore, the evaluation of positions which we have reached through empirical research is pointless before we know what the value of the research itself is.

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