The Transdisciplinarity Connection: An Introduction to an Epistemological Approach to Improve the Dialogue between Science and Tradition (original) (raw)
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Informing Science: The International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, 2018
The authors argue that interdisciplinarity, together with the more recent notion of transdisciplinarity, can be seen as a coherent attempt not so much to reassemble the fragmented structure into a whole, as to create a fruitful collaboration and integration among different disciplines that takes into account their specificity. At the threshold of the Modern Age, a series of paradigm shifts in Western thought caused its fragmentation into a variety of academic subdisciplines. Such diversification can be considered the result of epistemological shifts and changes in the division of intellectual labor. Which semantic horizons can this new approach open, and on which theoretical foundations could a dialogue between disciplines be produced? The growing importance of this problem is evidenced by the emergence, during the last decades, of philosophical reflections on the interactions among different research fields.The possibility of transdisciplinarity in modern science finds its theoretical premise in M. Foucault’s seminal work on the organization of knowledge, The Order of Things, which hinted at the existence of gaps in the grid of knowledge, leading, as a result, to the possibility of creating transdisciplinary connections. The paper aims to contribute to the contemporary discussion of the need to overcome boundaries between disciplines. Consequently, it has both a methodological and theoretical impact, since all branches of knowledge aspiring to go beyond their traditional theoretical boundaries would benefit from a coherent theoretical perspective which tries to reconceptualize the transfer of knowledge from one field to another. The authors’ critical discussion of transdisciplinarity aims to revive the French epistemological tradition that in the last decades has often been rejected by researchers as not being rigorous nor analytical. This choice is motivated by the belief that at the basis of this tradition lies a genuine theoretical intention that does not take for granted the possibility of transcending the usual division of intellectual work. In addition, the authors offer a brief account of the Russian conception of transdisciplinarity, relatively little studied in the West, which is presumed to integrate and solve the difficulties of other similar models.
Thinking the Relationship between Science, Religion, and Philosophy: New Perspectives of Interdisciplinarity, 2019
It can be considered that the main source of faith in many thinkers lies in the great enigma of the origin of the Universe, the matter, that in all rigor current science is incapable of solve. Scientific activity in its most advanced forms, and the most elaborate concerns only the transformations of matter, once it is there as a datum, a raw existent. She therefore, this activity is entirely situated below the great mystery. And the two conceivable attitudes in this respect are, in terms of philosophical, options of principle. Faced with the relativism that seems to dominate contemporary epistemology, the effort to distinguish the scientific approach from the reality of religious and philosophical approaches may seem reckless and outmoded. Yet it is an urgent task if we want to avoid the banal «All is good» that places all forms of knowledge at the same level of uncertainty and confusion. How to distinguish religious spirit, scientific spirit and philosophical thought in order to fully understand the respective scope and their limits? There is a lucid conception of human knowledge. This article attempts to provide an interdisciplinary answer to the difficult question of the originality of the scientific reflection through the examination of the main currents of thought that have crossed the epistemology, mainly in the twentieth century. The article is an attempt of exploring the possible ways to address the question of meaning and truth via an interdisciplinary approach of Science (answering the question of How and addresses facts), Philosophy (trying to answer the question of Why?) and Religion (answering Ultimate questions, values) by exposing the epistemological limits, the objects and the methods of scrutinizing human experience and the reality as a whole We still remember that Einstein clearly stated that «Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind»2. Does it make sense to philosophically re-think the nature of the relation between Science and Religion? What is the situation of the philosophy of religion today? What about the relation between science and philosophy? These are essential questions addressed human intelligence and questioning both the totality of his experience, culture and of his presence-in- the-world, and how he makes sense of nature and his understanding of the world. What are today the areas of possible interdisciplinary re-conciliation between the ideal of philosophy, religion and science as differential modes expression of our understanding of reality as such?
Transdisciplinarity: A scientific essential
Annals of the New York Academy of …, 2004
Transdisciplinarity in science is necessary to counteract the rapid growth of scientific results and information, the elimination of logical inconsistencies, and the effect of specialization whereby uncomparable disciplines develop. A correspondence is drawn between the uncontrolled growth, immune system malfunction, repression/expansion, and isolation that are characteristic of cancer and of the scientific concept of modernity. Suggestions are presented regarding the promotion of healing in both of these realms.
The relationship between science and religion. An introduction
Science and religion are the two grand visions of the world, so it is important to study their relationship. This relationship can be considered from the historical, philosophical and social point of view. The nature of science and technology on one side and of religion and religiosity on the other are briefly considered. After some preliminary considerations the difference between science and ideology is established. The relationship between science and religion is considered under five categories: conflict, independence, dialogue, complementariness and integration. Inevitable conflict is rejected on historical ground, although attitudes generating conflicts are present in the religious and scientific fundamentalisms. Independence assures the necessary autonomy of each one, but it is not sufficient. Dialogue is a good and desirable relationship that will enrich both of them. Complementariness adds to the dialogue that both visions of the world are not complete in themselves, so that they need to complement each other. Integration is a more problematic proposition and several approaches have been proposed. They can be grouped into those that go from the knowledge of nature to God and from a religious position to the knowledge of nature and science. As a conclusion a fruitful dialogue is proposed which recognizes the mutual autonomy between science and religion.
Modern Transdisciplinarity: Results of the Development of the Prime Cause and Initial Ideas
Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology
Aim/Purpose This paper focuses on systematizing and rethinking the conformity of modern transdisciplinarity with its prime cause and initial ideas. Background The difficulties of implementing transdisciplinarity into science and education are connected with the fact that its generally accepted definition, identification characteristics, and methodological features are still missing. In order to eliminate these disadvantages of transdisciplinarity, its prime cause and initial ideas had to be detected. It is also important to analyze the correspondence of the existing opinions about transdisciplinarity with the content of these cause and ideas. Methodology The qualitative analysis of the literature reviews on the subject of transdisciplinary was used in order to determine the correspondence of the opinions about the transdisciplinarity with the meaning of its prime cause and initial ideas. These opinions had to be generalized as well. Through this method, it was possible to detect and...
Science and Religion as Historical Traditions
After Science and Religion, 2022
2016 saw the publication of Science and Religion: An Impossible Dialogue by French-Canadian sociologist Yves Gingras. 1 The book, it must said, does not constitute a particularly helpful intervention, and against the grain of virtually all recent scholarship presents a reactionary reassertion of the discredited notion of an enduring historical conflict between science and religion. 2 But it does offer an interesting challenge, evident in its title, in that it enquires after the conditions of possibility for a dialogue between science and religion, and raises the normative issue of whether such a dialogue is desirable. By way of contrast, much contemporary science-religion discussion has tended to assume, to some degree uncritically, both the possibility and desirability of dialogue between science and religion. 3 This chapter begins with the question posed by Gingras's book, asking what must be true of 'science' and 'religion' for dialogue between them to be possible. One obvious response to this question is that they must in some sense be commensurable: that is, be the kinds of entities that can be in conversation with each other. My suggestion will be the understanding them in these terms can perpetuate an illicit reification in which they come to be understood primarily as enterprises that deliver propositions about the world. The chapter explores two main alternatives: science and religion as formative practices; and science and religion as historical traditions. The latter argument proceeds by way of a discussion of the problem of incommensurability, and potential solutions to it. In both cases, some form of historically informed philosophy turns out to be vital for an understanding of the relations between science and religion.
Transdisciplinary Epistemology: assumptions and categories (Atena Editora)
Transdisciplinary Epistemology: assumptions and categories (Atena Editora), 2023
Member of Instituto Morada das Tradiçõeswww.moradadastradicoes.com.br Instituto Morada das Tradições The Morada das Tradições Institute has as an educational project, to study, practice, transmit and publish about the knowledge extracted and inspired by universal traditions as a production for the quality of human life
The Unity of Science and Transdisciplinarity: A new Agenda to Face Civilizational Problems
2022
The text's objective is to show that the Western scientific tradition, since the pre-Socratics, has as one of its traits the search for a unitary and universal system of knowledge. Since the modern age, many attempts have been directed toward the search for the unification of science, culminating in Neurath's analytical philosophy and efforts in cybernetics. These efforts reflected an epistemological expectation for the unity of science, seeking methods and languages that would allow such an achievement. But such an expectation has not yet satisfied the hopes of the monists. The diversification of science deepened and, at the same time, the problems faced by humanity increased the need for science to offer answers to solve the great global problems. The planet and humanity are under severe pressure in many ways. Pollution and depletion of water resources, threats of mass extinction of biodiversity, deforestation, desertification, global climate change, persistent poverty for large contingents of the world's population, attacks on democratic systems and values in many countries, and, at this moment, a pandemic of great proportions. In short, a threat to the sustainability of the planet and civilization as such. The paper goes through Mode 1 of knowledge production, showing that this Model is limited and insufficient to solve the problems humanity is facing. Model 2 of knowledge production is suggested as the immediate perspective to support the cope with humanity´s global problems. This Agenda presupposes a new way to unify science, which transdisciplinarity can bring. Therefore, the unity of science wouldn´t be through reductionism or the unification of language, but through the new modus operandi of transdisciplinary practice.