From Quicksand to Crossroads: An Agnostic Perspective on Conversation

This paper attempts to facilitate conversation among organization scientists by advancing a philosophical perspective (agnosticism) that has been ignored in the recent subjective-objective debate. As agnostics, we suggest that the controversy may not be resolvable and that organization science can carry on in the absence of such resolution. We propose a series of concepts to guide the “post-debate” field, emphasizing that mutual striving for a “sense of accurate reception” (SOAR) can provide a crossroads for conversation among students of organizations. Suggestions for achieving SOAR are proposed.