Comparing Axiology and Ontology in Studies

This assignment analyzes the application of methodological tools, specifically axiology and ontology, in two separate studies. It delves into how axiology is employed to understand beliefs, ethics, and values, while ontology focuses on reality and being. The assignment compares these approaches by examining specific examples from 'The Problem of Sociology' and 'The Souls of Black Folk,' highlighting the contrasting perspectives each tool offers.

COMPARISON
BETWEEN TWO
ARTICLES

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Comparing and contrasting ........................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Research methodologies is the framework on the basis of which researcher attempts to
carry out research study in effective and efficient manner. In this context, the following report
will aid in contrasting and comparing the two articles which are “Georg Simmel on individuality
and social forms” and “Souls of black folk” by Du Bois. The comparison will be made which
highlights the theoretical and methodological components used in both the research articles.
After comparing and contrasting the articles, summary of main methodological and theoretical
differences will be provided in the report.
MAIN BODY
Comparing and contrasting
To conduct research in effective and efficient manner, researchers uses different types of
research methodologies. Georg Simmel in his book “ The Problem of Sociology” focused on the
societal interaction and its influence on human beings. He shares empirical knowledge. And
education about how human beings interact in the society and what factors influence them to
make communication with each other. In the following article the author has implemented
methodology of axiology. Author has described about the societies and how human beings create
societies. Axiology research methodology refers to the study of values. Researcher laid emphasis
on the values of human beings and values of society. The theory of values informs that how one
see the world and the value judgement to make his or her research. Here, researcher needs to be
aware of his or her own value systems and those of the groups and institutions that have impact
on the research. Axiology is the philosophical study of value (Biesta, 2015). It is either the
collective term for ethics and aesthetics.
Axiology is the study of value and how those values come about society. In axiology
research, the researcher try to comprehend the nature of value and judgement of value. It is
nearly related with two other realms of philosophy which are ethics and aesthetics. Furthermore,
in the study author Georg Simmel has used Inductive research approach. In inductive research
approach, researcher first identify pattern in social phenomena and then theory is developed to
explain the pattern. It is a way of developing theory that begins with the identification of a
pattern in a social phenomenon and then proceeds to the development of a theory to explain the
pattern. In the book written by Du Bois “The Souls of Black Folk”, the author has used
methodology of Ontology. It refers to the study of being. In the book he focused on American
1

Negro and considered them as the seventh son born with a veil and gifted with second sight in
American World. He focused on the areas where American Negro has faced many difficulties
while surviving in America. He considered them as “black servant”. Thus, ontology research
methodology has been used where he studied of being which was American Negro. Ontology
research methodology deals with reality (Mertens, 2014). It is a system of notion that indicate a
version of an individual about what represent a fact. In other words, ontology is connected with a
cardinal question of whether social entities required to be seen as objective or subjective.
Furthermore, inductive research approach has been used by the author in order to carry out his
study. In order to carry out the research in effective and efficient manner, it is crucial for the
researcher to select the precise research methodology and research approach. In the book, Du
Bois has explained the situations of American Negro in the country and provided detail
explanation of the factors the affects their conditions. Beyond these general arguments, author
established detailed analysis of the social condition experienced by African Americans. The Soul
of Black Folks is particularly noteworthy work which offers deep insights into the ways in which
ideas of race structure social interaction. Thus, this implied that the author has selected the
ontology research methodology where he made research of the being which was American
Negro.
Both the research paper were qualitative study and both authors have contrasted on
different aspect of society and human being. They focused on different agendas and used
different research methodologies to conduct their empirical studies. Georg Simmel in his book
“Problem of Sociology” define the meaning of society and what constitutes to formulate the
society. He focused on the bodies rather than being which creates a society (Simmel, 2011). The
interaction between human beings and how human beings are considered as social animals. To
conduct the research, it the author has implemented axiology research methodology (Drolet,
2014). Axiology research methodology refers to the study of value. Researcher has shared the
value of different communities and religions which together form a society. In both the article
authors has focused on different issues and provided detail information regarding the subject
matter. One has focused on the society and other has focused on different race of human being.
Both the researchers has implemented different research methodology but have implied same
research approach which was inductive research approach. In order to attain the aim and
objectives of the study, it is important for the researcher to select precise research methodologies.
2

In the following article the author has implemented methodology of axiology. Author has
described about the societies and how human beings create societies. Axiology research
methodology refers to the study of values. Researcher laid emphasis on the values of human
beings and values of society (Küpers, 2016). The theory of values informs that how one see the
world and the value judgement to make his or her research. Here, researcher needs to be aware of
his or her own value systems and those of the groups and institutions that have impact on the
research. In the second article, author has implemented ontology research methodology where
researcher has focused on the conditions of American Negro (Du Bois and Marable, 2015). He
focused on the areas where American Negro has faced many difficulties while surviving in
America. He considered them as “black servant”. Thus, ontology research methodology has been
used where he studied of being which was American Negro. Ontology research methodology
deals with reality. With the help of ontology theory in research paper the scholar was able to
represent views with the help of qualitative analysis as it is based on study and inclusion of facts
which helps the person in reflecting own self regardless of situation or differentiation like in The
Souls of Black Folk, the American Negro was degraded by American society on the basis of
colour. Nevertheless, in study of The Problem of Sociology the scholar used Axiology because
the study was based on ethics and values of people living in society. This theory assisted in
making easy explanation of concept of society and interaction between different people living in
society., It states that every individual has different values and beliefs but with the help of
interaction the society becomes united. Thus, Ontology is a formal and explicit specification of
shared conceptualisation which is used by author in book to define the experience the situation of
African America which is story of person with two souls in one body while with the help of
Anxiology, the scholar is able to define the concept of society, interaction and unity which is
based on values, ethics and beliefs of different people living in one area (Muraca, 2011). Thus, it
has been analysed that in society interaction the author stated that it is hypnotatization of mere
abstraction which is reason of peculiar uncertainty and vagueness of society. However, with
ontology the scholar focused on concept of being in which it scripted the scenario of Negro folks
who have been struggling with Americans.
In accordance to report it has been summarized that compare and contrasting is the best
strategy which helps in determining real methodology of study. It reflects the systematic process
used by scholar is frame own study. Like in case of book “The Problem of Sociology”, the
3

author implemented the use of Axiology, which is theory of values and in this the author
presented a detailed views and concept of living in society where the individuals stated the main
elect of society is interaction because it helps people in connecting with each other and building
unity. To present views on society the axiology is the tool which helps in determining worth of
something on the basis of values (Simmel, 2011). Herein this study the use of methodical tools
helped the scholar in combining the use of terms ethics and aesthetics where ethics are the
individual believes and values which are reflected in interaction. However, aesthetic are the
principles which helps the person in appreciating beauty. This methodology is tool which is used
in article of sociology where the author analyzed beauty and artistic taste of society. In this the
focus of scholar is on societal interaction and unity where in chapter interaction and values f
people in society are segregated and represented according to their work and interest like the
interaction between students and teacher is different and is based on some different ethical
standards (Edwards, 2010). Apparently, the interaction between families in society is different
based on their belies and values. Thus, in accordance to axiology, the theory of values, the author
has focused on developing understanding about societal interaction and values of person.
Further, from study of spiritual strivings, “The Souls of Black Folk” it has been evaluated that in
this study the author has implemented the use of methodological tool which is Ontology which is
theory of being which is branch of metaphysics which is science that is based on nature of reality
(Du Bois and Marable, 2015). From this study, it can be summarized individual experienced in
which the person focused on comparing him with world with the help of unasked question. The
theory of being was the most suitable for this study as it is based on one reality that is based on
feelings of delicacy. In this the author compared fee with the feeling of two ness that is two
different personality one is American and one is Negro where there are two souls, two
unreconciled two thoughts and two ideals in one dark body. In this the focus of the writer was to
represent own reality of life with the help of Ontology, the reality methodological tools
(Gargouri, 2010). This theory assisted scholar in framing it views very systematically like in one
line the individual quoted about American Negro which is focused on attaining self conscious
manhood and to merge two souls in one better and truer human being. The writer states that he
would not Africanize for America because America has too much for teach Africa and world.
The study has been focused on theory of reality because in this the r person did not want to turn
his Negro soul has white American because according to individual Negro blood has a message
4

for the world which needs to be conveyed and for which the person is happy with own reality.
Thus, it has been summarized that Ontology and Axiology are two methodological tools which
are completely different from each other and act as because of studies (Kockelman, 2013). Like
in case of reality and knowing through the scholar implements the use of Ontology whereas in
case of beliefs, ethics and values the writer implements the use of Axiology as it helps in
deriving worth.
CONCLUSION
The report summarized about methodological tools of two studies that is Axiology and
Ontology where axiology is used for the book of The Problem of Sociology and Ontology was
used for The Souls of Black Folk. Both the books and their study is completely different from
each other as one is based on reality and worth where other one is focused on being own self.
Further, the report outlined that both the studies are based on qualitative analysis in which the
author described views and study with the use of different tools. Also, it outlined the contrast of
both the books which was differentiated on the basis of society and human being. Thus, the
report concluded with summary of the books and methodological tools used by authors to
represents study and writings.
5

6

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Biesta, G., 2015. On the two cultures of educational research, and how we might move ahead:
Reconsidering the ontology, axiology and praxeology of education. European Educational
Research Journal, 14(1), pp.11-22.
Drolet, M.J., 2014. The axiological ontology of occupational therapy: A philosophical
analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 21(1), pp.2-10.
Du Bois, W.E.B. and Marable, M., 2015. Souls of black folk. Routledge.
Edwards, R.B., 2010. The essentials of formal axiology.
Gargouri, F. ed., 2010. Ontology Theory, Management and Design: Advanced Tools and Models:
Advanced Tools and Models. Igi Global.
Kockelman, P., 2013. Agent, person, subject, self: A theory of ontology, interaction, and
infrastructure. Oxford University Press.
Küpers, W., 2016. Being a Wise Organizational Researcher: Ontology, Epistemology and
Axiology. In A Handbook of Practical Wisdom (pp. 96-116). Routledge.
Mertens, D.M., 2014. Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating
diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Sage publications.
Muraca, B., 2011. The map of moral significance: A new axiological matrix for environmental
ethics. Environmental Values. pp.375-396.
Simmel, G., 2011. Georg Simmel on individuality and social forms. University of Chicago Press.
7