Pragmatism, neo-pragmatism and sociocultural theory: Communicative participation as a perspective in LIS

Purpose – To show that the neo-pragmatist position of Richard Rorty, when combined with a sociocultural perspective, provides library and information science (LIS) with a forceful epistemological tool. Design/methodology/approach – Literature-based conceptual analysis of: historical development of pragmatism in relation to other epistemological positions; neo-pragmatism as a non-dualist, both purpose and communication oriented, epistemology; and a sociocultural perspective within pedagogy, originated from the Russian researcher Lev Vygotsky. Findings – Brought together, a neo-pragmatist, sociocultural perspective contributes to a focus on people’s actions through the use of linguistic and physical tools. As a tangible example of how neo-pragmatism can be applied as an epistemological tool within LIS, information seeking seen as communicative participation is discussed. This article unites a perspective on information seeking as communicative participation with the neo-pragmatist concepts of “tools” and “communities of justification”. The article is concluded by an assessment of neo-pragmatism as an epistemological position within LIS, including those research issues that arise from this position and that are introduced along the way. Practical implications – In its focus on usability, the neo-pragmatist position provides a possible bridge between academic and other professional practices in the field of LIS. Originality/value – Provides, through the means of neo-pragmatism, an argument for the necessity of epistemological argumentation within LIS.