Introductory remarks

In this preliminary part of the book, I will discuss several topics which are relevant as the background for an assessment of the material presented in chapters 1–4. Only the first section is truly introductory, i.e. it is intended to make tangible for a novice the hermeneutical viewpoint, which I adopt in my approach to network modelling and CL in general. The subsequent sections are intended for readers who are well-acquainted with relevant CL literature. Their goal is to “problematize” issues usually taken for granted or passed over in standard presentations of the domains in question. In other words, I attempt to show that some of the assumptions underlying particular treatments are arbitrary or of limited adequacy or beside the point, when one focuses on the issues from a wider perspective. Consequently, I do not offer “introductions” to particular fields of inquiry, but rather critical comments on some of the basic claims put forward in those fields. By its nature, an approach focusing on gaps and questionable assumptions cannot be systematic. I will try to retrace my steps and introduce some order in the final section (0.5.). Let me point out that the possibly irritating approach adopted here is my way to deal with the “hermeneutical situation”, i.e. one which is not transparent at first sight, in terms offered by CL theorists.