Psychological inquiry and the role of world views

A variety of world models have influenced psychological inquiry. However, r ecent theoretical analyses of the field have argued that the lack of a sing le metatheoretical framework in which to base psychological inquiry may hav e severe negative consequences. In this paper I review three distinctive wo rld views which have influenced psychological inquiry and develop the idea that, at lease at this point in the history of psychology, the use of multi ple metatheoretical perspectives may be beneficial. Specifically, I suggest chat using various metatheoretical views may minimize the perpetuation of Limited systems and develop a point of view for thinking about metatheoreti cal pluralism from several philosophical/intellectual traditions. Moreover, I argue that acknowledging the viability and utility of multiple metatheor etical perspectives does not necessarily resign psychology to perpetual dis unification or fragmentation.