Controversy in Marketing Theory: For Reason, Realism, Truth and Objectivity

Download or read book Controversy in Marketing Theory: For Reason, Realism, Truth and Objectivity written by Shelby D. Hunt and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-09-16 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book distinguished theorist and author Shelby D. Hunt analyzes the major controversies in the "philosophy debates" raging throughout the field of marketing. Using an historical approach, Hunt argues against relativism and for scientific realism as a philosophy for guiding marketing research and theory. He also shows how the pursuit of truth and objectivity in marketing research are both possible and desirable. Specific controversies analyzed in the book include: Does positivism dominate marketing research? Does positivism imply quantitive methods? Is relativism an appropriate foundation for marketing research? Does relativism imply pluralism, tolerance, and openness? Should marketing pursue the goal of objective research? An ideal companion to Hunt's classic text, Foundations of Marketing Theory, this volume will be equally useful on its own in any graduate level course on marketing theory.