Naslov
Wicked or normal understanding?: explanatory ontology of science for sustainability

Autori
Domazet, Mladen

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
10. Lošinjski dani bioetike / - Zagreb : Hrvatsko filozofsko društvo, 2011

Skup
10. Lošinjski dani bioetike

Mjesto i datum
Lošinj, Hrvatska, 15.05.2011. - 18.05.2011

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Domaća recenzija

Ključne riječi
global environmental chnage; explaantory discourse; common-sense; physics
(Wicked or normal understanding?: explanatory ontology of science for sustainability)

Sažetak
The article aims to set up a general conceptual framework for explaining the combined natural and social conditions associated with global environmental change. Starting from addressing the issues through the metaphor of ‘the tragedy of the commons’ it suggests that a pessimistic reading can be avoided in situations where different participants of the commons understand the universal rules constraining preferable governance strategies, and can choose to form mutual agreements to act cooperatively in furthering some of their individual interests. In providing the said understanding scientific explanation plays a crucial role, but the traditional mechanistically based explanation resulting from the normal conduct of science – with its rules of trying to reduce complexity and eliminate uncertainty – fails to elucidate the so-called 'wicked' problems associated with global environmental change in a way that would motivate global cooperative action towards their resolution. Based on the premise that the 'wicked' problems defy traditional problem solving methods and explanatory conceptualisations, alternative explanatory strategies are tentatively outlined. Within a research programme of Post-normal Science ontology of systems and their characteristics and interactions is proposed as a foundation for an explanatory discourse addressing the problems of sustainability and survival. In this paper such proposal is informed by the case-study of explanations in quantum theory, a fundamental formalised physical theory with long-standing incontestable empirical adequacy and physical foundation of understanding based on scientific realism, as a starting point for development of explanatory strategies applicable to complex holistic material-cognitive phenomena calling for global action strategies. As alternatives to the mechanistic reduction based on Victorian physics potentials for understanding as precondition for active rational commitment are illuminated. Several constraining principles applicable to flexible scaling are tentatively proposed, opening up space for further tests of case-study applicability, both in terms of universal validity and conceptual accessibility to different human commons-governance participants.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filozofija

POVEZANOST RADA