Knowing As Being: Psychology, Limits To Knowledge, And An Ethics Of Solidarity

Critical epistemological reflection facilitates disciplinary self-reflection, and yet the limitation of this practice needs to examined. This article explores the possibility of a praxis-oriented philosophical foundation for psychology through investigating the limits to knowledge. Integrating insights from critical communicative pragmatist perspectives and Zen Buddhism, this paper outlines what constitutes limits to knowledge and contests the boundary of epistemology, in relation to psychology as a natural science, social science, and critical science. Building upon this deconstruction/reconstruction, Zen Buddhist practice is drawn upon to further illuminate the potential to center psychology through the praxis of knowing as being, which is nontotalizing and always open to uncertainty and fallibility. My key argument is that any notion of epistemology is inadequate when divorced from its intra-connection to being and practice that have inherent ethical and moral relevance. This necessitates deferring philosophizing to a constant and endless practice that upholds an ethics of solidarity.