Philosophy of Science and Social Construction: An Epistemological Study in the Indonesian Context
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58485/elrusyd.v10i2.403Keywords:
Philosophy of science, social construction, scientific knowledgeAbstract
Exploring the relationship between the philosophy of science and social construction provides a critical foundation for understanding the development of scientific knowledge in modern society, particularly within the Indonesian context. The philosophy of science, which examines the epistemological, ontological, and methodological foundations of scientific inquiry, is influenced by the post-positivist paradigm that emphasizes the role of social factors such as culture and norms in shaping knowledge. Meanwhile, Berger and Luckmann’s theory of social construction views scientific knowledge as the result of social interaction, negotiation, and institutionalization rather than an absolutely objective entity. Using qualitative methods with a content analysis approach and a synthetic examination of sources such as journals, books, and local case studies, this research reveals that scientific knowledge in Indonesia is shaped by local values such as mutual cooperation, post-reform political agendas, and cultural narratives, which often give rise to epistemic bias and the marginalization of traditional knowledge. The key findings highlight practical implications in the fields of education, health, and the environment, suggesting that integrating a decolonial philosophy of science can reduce injustice and support inclusive policies such as the National Health Insurance. Overall, this interdisciplinary approach affirms that scientific knowledge is dynamic and contextual, encouraging critical reflection on absolute objectivity to promote equitable and sustainable development.
References
Agustini, D. T., & Iskandar, J. (2021). Overview of participatory water management to overcome drought towards agricultural sector. In W. S., S. D., U. G.L., & M. A.D. (Eds.), E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 249). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202124901008
Antwi, S. K., & Hamza, K. (2015). Qualitative and Quantitative Research Paradigms in Business Research: A Philosophical Reflection. European Journal of Business and ManagementOnline), 7(3), 2222–2839.
Az-Zahra, D. W., Ediz, M. H., Nafian, Z. I., & Metriadi, M. (2025). Aberrant Behavior of Widows in Muslim Societies. Multidisciplinary Journal of Thought and Research, 1(2), 55–65. https://mujoter.intischolar.id/index.php/mujoter/article/view/15%0Ahttps://mujoter.intischolar.id/index.php/mujoter/article/download/15/12
Bennett, J., Cheah, P., Orlie, M. A., & Grosz, E. (2020). Introducing the New Materialisms. In New Materialisms (pp. 1–44). https://doi.org/10.1515/9780822392996-002
Bordogna, C. M., & Lundgren-Resenterra, M. (2023). Integrating and Normalising Coaching as a Routine Practice in Doctoral Supervision. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 18, 99–118. https://doi.org/10.28945/5096
Crochet, S. (2016). About Noise in Religious Context : Religious Communication Perspective. CoverAge: Journal of Strategic Communication, 7(1), 28–42. https://doi.org/https://journal.univpancasila.ac.id/index.php/coverage/article/view/564
Dressler, M. (2019). The Social Construction of Reality (1966) Revisited: Epistemology and Theorizing in the Study of Religion. Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 31(2), 120–151. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700682-12341434
Endress, M. (2019). The theoretical claims of The Social Construction of Reality 1. Social Constructivism as Paradigm?, 45–64. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429467714-3
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Masuwd, M. A., Rahman, I., Datres, D., Taufan, M., Akmal, F., Dasrizal, D., Oktavia, G., Yusrial, Y., & Febriani, A. (2025). Challenges and Steps in Living Quran and Hadith Research: An Introduction. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research of Higher Education (IJMURHICA, 8(3), 426–435. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/ijmurhica.v8i3.396
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Sarianto, D., Ayad, N., Rahman, A., Febriani, A., Oktavia, G., Guspita, R., & Rahman, I. (2024). Analysis of Quran Education Problems in Majority Muslim Countries. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 3(1), 65–80. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/insight.v3i1.209
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Taufan, M., Rahman, I., Oktavia, G., & Guspita, R. (2023). Quran Teacher: Future Profession or Devotion to the Ummah? International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research of Higher Education (IJMURHICA), 6(4), 196–210. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/ijmurhica.v6i4.321
Engkizar, E, Jaafar, A., Alias, M., Guspita, B., & Albizar, R. (2025). Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence in Qur’anic Learning: Innovation or Threat? Journal of Quranic Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 1–17. https://joqer.intischolar.id/index.php/joqer/index
Engkizar, E, Jaafar, A., Masuwd, M. A., Rahman, I., Datres, D., Taufan, M., Akmal, F., Dasrizal, D., Oktavia, G., Yusrial, Y., & Febriani, A. (2025). Challenges and Steps in Living Quran and Hadith Research: An Introduction. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research of Higher Education (IJMURHICA, 8(3), 426–435. https://doi.org/10.24036/ijmurhica.v8i3.396
Engkizar, Engkizar, Jaafar, A., Hamzah, M. I., Fakhruddin, F. M., Oktavia, G., & Febriani, A. (2023). Changes in Students’ Motivation to Memorize the Quran: A Study at Quranic Higher Education Institutions in Indonesia. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 2(3), 240–258. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/insight.v2i3.240
Engkizar, Engkizar, Muslim, H., Mulyadi, I., & Putra, Y. A. (2025). Ten Criteria for an Ideal Teacher to Memorize the Quran. Journal of Theory and Research Memorization Quran, 1(1), 26–39. https://joqer.intischolar.id/index.php/joqer
Engkizar, Engkizar, Sarianti, Y., Namira, S., Budiman, S., Susanti, H., & Albizar, A. (2022). Five Methods of Quran Memorization in Tahfidz House of Fastabiqul Khairat Indonesia. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 1(1), 54–67. https://doi.org/10.24036/insight.v1i1.27
Gergen, K. J. . (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Overview of Data Reduction, Data Display and Interpretation. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(21), 1–100. https://doi.org/10.7176/RHSS/10-21-02
Haerudin, W., & Noor, T. (2022). Internalization of The Values of Religious Character in Learning Activities as an Effort of Characteristics Islamic Manners. Al-Afkar, Journal For Islamic Studies, 5(1), 268–280. https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8113/44/8/085201
Jaafar, A., Kamaruzaman, N. R., & Idris, M. (2025). The Concept and Practice of Islamic Education in Realizing Peace in Society. Muaddib: Journal of Islamic Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 24–35. https://doi.org/https://muaddib.intischolar.id/index.php/muaddib/article/view/10
Jay, S., Winterburn, M., Jha, K., Sah, A. K., Choudhary, R., & Muldoon, O. T. (2022). A Resilience Building Collaboration: A Social Identity Empowerment Approach to Trauma Management in Leprosy-Affected Communities. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14(6), 940–947. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001160
Jiang, H. (2022). Design and Implementation of Smart Community Big Data Dynamic Analysis Model Based on Logistic Regression Model. Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4038084
Kankam, P. K. (2019). The use of paradigms in information research. Library & Information Science Research, 41(2), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2019.04.003
Khairanis, R. (2025). The Impact of Post-Potivism and Constructivism on Public Policy: A review of Philosophy of Science in Indonesia. Jurnal Cendekia Ilmiah, 4(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56799/jceki.v4i2.7225
Klopfer, L. E., & Aikenhead, G. S. (2022). Humanistic science education: The history of science and other relevant contexts. Science Education, 106(3), 490–504. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21700
Koc, K., Ekmekcioğlu, Ö., & Özger, M. (2021). An integrated framework for the comprehensive evaluation of low impact development strategies. Journal of Environmental Management, 294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113023
Kühne, O., & Berr, K. (2022). Philosophy of Science—Philosophical Foundations and Positions. In Science, Space, Society (pp. 47–110). Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-39140-9_3
Lim, W. M. (2024). A typology of validity: content, face, convergent, discriminant, nomological and predictive validity. Journal of Trade Science, 12(3), 155–179. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTS-03-2024-0016
Loenhoff, J. (2019). Objectification and verbalization: social constructivism and the problem of language. In Social Constructivism as Paradigm? The Legacy of the Social Construction of Reality (pp. 105–117).
MacLin, M. K. (2020). An Introduction to Scientific Inquiry. In Experimental Design in Psychology (pp. 3–23). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367808280-2
Maestripieri, D., & Jurgensen, J. (2025). On the unity of knowledge: Integrating scientific and humanistic approaches in evolutionary psychology and a call for papers for a special issue on consilience. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 19(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000350
Maldonado-Erazo, C. P., Del Río-Rama, M. C., Miranda-Salazar, S. P., & Tierra-Tierra, N. P. (2022). Strengthening of Community Tourism Enterprises as a Means of Sustainable Development in Rural Areas: A Case Study of Community Tourism Development in Chimborazo. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074314
Markhmadova, Z. K., Duisenbayeva, S. S., & Dasrizal, D. (2025). Exploratory Analysis of Challenges for international Students Studying in Muslim- Majority Countries. Journal of International Affairs and Students Mobility, 1(1), 57–70. https://doi.org/https://jiasmy.intischolar.id/index.php/jiasmy/article/view/5
Mireanu, C. (2022). The Social Construction of Reality. BULLETIN OF “CAROL I” NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, 10(4), 112–118. https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-21-50
Muktapa, M. I. (2021). Implikasi Filsafat Ilmu dan Etika Keilmuan dalam Pengembangan Ilmu Pengetahuan Modern. Jurnal BELAINDIKA (Pembelajaran Dan Inovasi Pendidikan), 3(2), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.52005/belaindika.v3i2.73
Munarun, A., Fatmawati, N. M., & Muthohar, S. (2025). Implementation of Multicultural Education for Students through Seven Values of Islamic History Education in Indonesia. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 4(2), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.24036/insight.v4i2.225
Nuha, N. U., Faridi, A., & Tobroni, T. (2024). Implementation of the Context, Input, Process, Product Model in Evaluating Islamic Education Institutions. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.24036/insight.v3i3.195
Okenova, B., Xu, W., & Adel, S. (2025). The Practice of Moderate Education to Prevent Interreligious Conflict. Muaddib: Journal of Islamic Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 36–54. https://muaddib.intischolar.id/index.php/muaddib/article/view/8
Özdemir, V., & Springer, S. (2022). Decolonizing Knowledge Upstream: New Ways to Deconstruct and Fight Disinformation in an Era of COVID-19, Extreme Digital Transformation, and Climate Emergency. OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology, 26(5), 247–269. https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2022.0041
Paudel, P. (2024). Examining Paradigmatic Shifts: Unveiling the Philosophical Foundations Shaping Social Research Methodologies. Journal of the University of Ruhuna, 12(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.4038/jur.v12i1.8033
Pittaway, L., Aïssaoui, R., & Fox, J. (2018). Social constructionism and entrepreneurial opportunity. In Philosophical Reflexivity and Entrepreneurship Research (pp. 44–65). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315625454-4
Pohontsch, N. J. (2019). Qualitative Content Analysis. Rehabilitation (Germany), 58(6), 413–418. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0801-5465
Ravetz, J. R. (2020). Scientific Knowledge and Its Social Problems. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003075158
Roller, M. R. (2019). A quality approach to qualitative content analysis: Similarities and differences compared to other qualitative methods. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung, 20(3). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-20.3.3385
Setiawan, P. A. (2024). Positivisme Sebagai Era Baru Filsafat dan Pengaruhnya Dalam Kajian Sosial Islam. Al-Qalam: Jurnal Kajian Islam Dan Pendidikan, 16(2), 330–341. https://doi.org/10.47435/al-qalam.v16i2.3431
Soneryd, L., & Sundqvist, G. (2023). Co-production of Scientific Knowledge and Societal Order. In Science and Democracy (Vol. 36, Issue 9, pp. 89–107). Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529222159.ch005
Sumarni, W., & Kadarwati, S. (2020). Ethno-stem project-based learning: Its impact to critical and creative thinking skills. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 9(1), 11–21. https://doi.org/10.15294/jpii.v9i1.21754
Suparno, S. H. U. J. (2021). Penanaman Karakter Peduli Lingkungan Melalui Kegiatan Gotong Royong Di Sdn Unyur. Primary: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.33578/jpfkip.v10i1.8019
Suwono, H., Rofi’Ah, N. L., Saefi, M., & Fachrunnisa, R. (2023). Interactive socio-scientific inquiry for promoting scientific literacy, enhancing biological knowledge, and developing critical thinking. Journal of Biological Education, 57(5), 944–959. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2021.2006270
Tarlam, A., Amaliya, N. F., & Ernawati, E. (2024). Budaya Unik “Munggahan” Menjelang Bulan Ramadhan Di Kabupaten Subang Jawa Barat : Studi Antropologi Al-Qur’an. Urwatul Wutsqo: Jurnal Studi Kependidikan Dan Keislaman, 13(2), 257–270. https://doi.org/10.54437/urwatulwutsqo.v13i2.1561
Wardani, W. (2019). Integrasi Ilmu Keislaman dan Filsafat: Perspektif Filsafat Ilmu. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Ushuluddin, 18(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.18592/jiiu.v18i1.3014
Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Shrestha, A., Zhou, X., Teng, M., Wang, P., & Wang, G. (2023). Exploring the Main Determinants of National Park Community Management: Evidence from Bibliometric Analysis. Forests, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091850
