Knowledge is not always Power; the Sociological Explanation of the Dominant of Psychological Perspective in Iran

Too much attention to an individual-centered discourse in today Iran has caused a slow but increasing dominance of individual-centered theories, methodologies and approaches in academic disciplines, notably the prevalence of psychology in explaining the social world. This paper claims that this situation is a manifestation or an example of the imperialist relationship between individualistic discourse and sociology.

Goal: 

The current paper aims to analyze this imperialistic relation and to examine its dimensions, applying genealogy.

Findings show that nominalism as the ontological and epistemological foundation of an individual-centered discourse plays a substantial role in the theorizing and promoting such discourse. Results also indicate that one cannot ignore the collaboration of power and knowledge in the emergence, establishment and stabilization of this situation.