Research Summary
We are witnessing a fundamental change in thinking when it comes to authoritative scientific knowledge. Scholars and activists alike are questioning even the most rigorous research programs, pointing out that they reflect the interests and values of their makers and aren’t “value-free.” Such critiques have profoundly affected the field of anthropological archaeology. At the same time, the discipline has been enriched by innovative research programs undertaken by feminists, critical race theorists, de-colonial and Indigenous advocates and scholars, and many others.
As Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of the Social and Historical Sciences, Dr. Margaret Alison Wylie aims to understand how and why these often overtly political research programs can improve anthropological archaeology rather than compromising it. Ultimately, she and her research team are developing a philosophical argument that inclusive, collaborative research is not only a matter of social justice, but also essential to producing better, more rigorous knowledge in anthropological archaeology.