reflexivitással

Reflexivity, in Hungarian referred to as “reflexivitás” or “reflexivitással” when used in a prepositional phrase, denotes the capacity of a thought, a theory, or a practice to examine and critique its own framework, assumptions, and effects. The concept has its roots in psychoanalytic theory, where Freud introduced the idea of the self‑reflective subject, and later philosophers such as G.W.F. Hegel and Jürgen Habermas expanded it into a broader epistemological and sociological context. In contemporary research, especially in the social sciences, reflexivity is understood as a methodological stance that insists researchers maintain critical scrutiny of their own positionality, values, and influence on the data they collect and the knowledge they produce. It encourages a transparent acknowledgment of the researcher’s background and the potential biases that may shape interpretations, thereby seeking to enhance the credibility and validity of findings.

In sociology, reflexivity is linked to the idea that societies are continuously aware of their own institutions and that social actors actively negotiate meaning in light of this awareness. Reflexive modernization, a term coined by Ulrich Beck, describes a stage where social changes—such as increased risk awareness, information abundance, and political participation—create an environment in which self‑analysis and restructuring become a fundamental part of social life.

In philosophical discourse, reflexivity is often tied to epistemic norms, questioning the relationship between knowledge and justification. Classical philosophers like Descartes used systematic doubt as a form of reflexivity, while later thinkers such as Kant and Husserl explored how self‑referential judgments are essential for establishing certainty and meaning. Ultimately, reflexivity operates as both a conceptual tool and a practical practice, enabling individuals and societies to critically assess and modify their own beliefs, actions, and institutions.