Abstract:

In this reflective paper on certain aspects of the philosophy of science regarding Information Systems, I shall endeavour to focus on the reflexive relationship between Information Systems and the humanities and, especially, to give recognition to one side of this synergy (the use of constructs of the humanities in the field of IS) that has been practised for many years without receiving sufficient acknowledgement. I trust that bringing this issue to the fore will create a debate on the validity and maturity of the sub-discipline. According to O’Donovan and Roode (2009:32), "[t]he importance of dialogue as a process through which the [IS] discipline will grow cannot be overestimated". Therefore, such a debate could stimulate more research that consciously addresses and promotes this identified research focus. This wish is parallel to the one expressed by Kock (2009:414) with regard to the social sciences, and especially the enrichment of IS through Evolutionary Psychology. I believe that this type of meta-research is essential for the IS discipline because every research approach reflects ontological and epistemological assumptions, influences research questions and methodologies, and affects the outcomes and results (Chiasson et al. 2008:33). Reflection is also needed to uncover the nature of the IS discipline and to overcome ontological rifts between diverse communities of practice in IS research (O’Donovan and Roode 2009:34, 37). Although Humanities-enriched IS may still be in a pre-disciplinary phase, scholars should look out for a "founding moment of rupture with the surrounding disciplines" (the inceptive moment when a new discipline is set apart) and foster initiatives to identify its own unique set of methods and practices, to build a community of teachers and researchers and to train its own "disciples" in order to make that moment arrive (Rockwell 2002). First, the paper clarifies the use of some terms such as the terms Information Systems, humanities and social sciences. This will be followed by an explication of the core issue, namely the difference between Humanities Computing and Humanities-informed Computing. Both sides of the mutual relationship will be discussed in some detail, and some directions for the way forward will be suggested.