Rethinking science for sustainable development: Reflexive interaction for a paradigm transformation

Kläy, Andreas; Zimmermann, Anne; Schneider, Flurina (2015). Rethinking science for sustainable development: Reflexive interaction for a paradigm transformation. Futures, 65, pp. 72-85. Elsevier 10.1016/j.futures.2014.10.012

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If we postulate a need for the transformation of society towards sustainable development, we also need to transform science and overcome the fact/value split that makes it impossible for science to be accountable to society. The orientation of this paradigm transformation in science has been under debate for four decades, generating important theoretical concepts, but they have had limited impact until now. This is due to a contradictory normative science policy framing that science has difficulties dealing with, not least of all because the dominant framing creates a lock-in. We postulate that in addition to introducing transdisciplinarity, science needs to strive for integration of the normative aspect of sustainable development at the meta-level. This requires a strategically managed niche within which scholars and practitioners from many different disciplines can engage in a long-term common learning process, in order to become a “thought collective” (Fleck) capable of initiating the paradigm transformation. Arguing with Piaget that “decentration” is essential to achieve normative orientation and coherence in a learning collective, we introduce a learning approach—Cohn's “Theme-Centred Interaction”—which provides a methodology for explicitly working with the objectivity and subjectivity of statements and positions in a “real-world” context, and for consciously integrating concerns of individuals in their interdependence with the world. This should enable a thought collective to address the epistemological and ethical barriers to science for sustainable development.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

UniBE Contributor:

Kläy, Andreas, Zimmermann, Anne Barbara, Schneider, Flurina

ISSN:

0016-3287

Publisher:

Elsevier

Funders:

[UNSPECIFIED] Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern

Projects:

[UNSPECIFIED] Education for Sustainable Development

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anne Zimmermann

Date Deposited:

15 Dec 2014 10:55

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:25

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.futures.2014.10.012

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Sustainable development, Values, Transformative science, Transdisciplinarity, Learning, Ethics in science, Human dignity

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.60895

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/60895

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