The Value of Theorizing: How New Theory Matters in Research Work and University Governance Practice

In this compelling book, Alexander Styhre presents a comprehensive analysis of the role and purpose of theory within the university setting. Critiquing current university governance practices which assess research quality based on citation frequency data, Styhre proposes an alternate measure of research quality based on contentful concepts in the space of reason. Focusing on the inner workings of scholarly communities, The Value of Theorizing evaluates the quality as popularity fallacy and highlights the importance of alternative methods of thinking. Styhre draws on American pragmatism and analytical philosophy to construct his approach, bringing together theories of instrumental and methodological pragmatism. He goes on to dissect inferentialist theory, the semantics of language, and the political economy of new theory, amalgamating these to make an invaluable contribution to this ever-changing field. Highlighting the importance of reason in assessing the quality of theory in a university setting, this innovative book will prove an intriguing read for scholars of management and the social sciences with an interest in their research environment, as well as researchers of American pragmatism, analytical philosophy and the philosophy of language. It will also appeal to scholars, policy makers and university employees who are interested in refining university governance practices and the process of research.