Epistemological Pluralism

Epistemological Pluralism: Reorganizing Interdisciplinary Research

By Thaddeus R. Miller, Timothy D. Baird, Caitlin M. Littlefield, Gary Kofinas, F. Stuart Chapin III, and Charles L. Redman

Despite progress in interdisciplinary research, difficulties remain. In this paper, we argue that scholars, educators, and practitioners need to critically rethink the ways in which interdisciplinary research and training are conducted. We present epistemological pluralism as an approach for conducting innovative, collaborative research and study. Epistemological pluralism recognizes that, in any given research context, there may be several valuable ways of knowing, and that accommodating this plurality can lead to more successful integrated study. This approach is particularly useful in the study and management of social–ecological systems.

Through resilience theory's adaptive cycle, we demonstrate how a focus on epistemological pluralism can facilitate the reorganization of interdisciplinary research and avoid the build-up of significant, but insufficiently integrative, disciplinary-dominated research. Finally, using two case studies—urban ecology and social–ecological research in Alaska—we highlight how interdisciplinary work is impeded when divergent epistemologies are not recognized and valued, and that by incorporating a pluralistic framework, these issues can be better explored, resulting in more integrated understanding.

Read More: Here

Does Spirituality Need an Integral Map?

Why Does Spirituality Need Integral?

by Kelly Sosan Bearer

Spirituality is a complex, confusing, and polarizing force in the world. With so many different definitions of the word, we can barely even begin to start the conversation. Some equate spirituality with mysticism as described by the great philosophers; but with the infiltration of New Age concepts of spirituality, many are not sure what the word means anymore. Some don’t distinguish spirituality from religion, while others identify themselves as spiritual but not religious. Some believe they need not commit themselves to any particular path in order to be spiritual, while others actively search for spiritual practices that will fit best with their unique needs. The list goes on and on. These are just a few of the many issues that we are going to look into here at iEvolve.

There are so many forms and types of spirituality today. Some preach love and acceptance; others preach hate and destruction. Many traditions claim that their way is the only way, “the one true path,” which directly contradicts other traditions that say their way is the only way. Why does spirit express itself in such radically different ways? Who is right and who is wrong? Can anything reconcile such radically different points of view?

Enter the Integral Map…

Read More: Here

A Challenge to The Integral Community

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

You may have noticed that we have been blogging on climate change issues. Our intention is to remind the integral community that we are at a key moment in the emergence and evolution of our species. The Copenhagen climate conference is widely acknowledged as the last opportunity our civilization has of creating world changing international agreements.

If we cannot maintain our basic life-conditions then the emergent spiral of cultural evolution will come to a brutal halt.

But where are all the integral voices? Silent. When the rest of the world is engaging this moment in history the 'integrally informed' remain silent? If the integral paradigm cannot rise to the biggest challenge in human history then what good is it?

So here is the challenge: The IRG openly challenges every integrally-informed blogger, organization or person to speak up, speak out and join in on the most important dialogue humanity has ever undertaken. No matter where you sit in terms of the debate, let your views and perspectives be heard and known.

There is no room for silence and no one will escape being called into account on where they were or what they did during this crucial time.

Climate Change: The Real Science

The following videos are easy-to-follow descriptions of how climate scientists infer that man-made carbon gases are changing the climate, and how this view is contradicted by other climate scientists who are skeptics.

This first video is a 10-minute summary of the prevailing scientific arguments and counter-arguments, not a PhD thesis. If you disagree with what real, professional climate scientists say, please take it up with them and don’t expect me to defend their point of view. If you have a stunning piece of scientific evidence that disproves one side or the other, don’t waste time on our blog, write a paper, and get it peer-reviewed and published in a reputable journal.



This video looks at alternative hypotheses explaining global warming. I am only looking at alternative hypotheses put forward by real, professional climate researchers, and the findings of real, professional climate researchers who disagree with them.



AND FINALLY:

Fourteen days to seal history’s judgment on this generation

From The Guardian:

Copenhagen climate change conference: 'Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation

Today [December 8, 2009] 56 newspapers in 45 countries take the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial. We do so because humanity faces a profound emergency.

Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year’s inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world’s response has been feeble and half-hearted.

Climate change has been caused over centuries, has consequences that will endure for all time and our prospects of taming it will be determined in the next 14 days. We call on the representatives of the 192 countries gathered in Copenhagen not to hesitate, not to fall into dispute, not to blame each other but to seize opportunity from the greatest modern failure of politics. This should not be a fight between the rich world and the poor world, or between east and west. Climate change affects everyone, and must be solved by everyone.

Read More: Here

Conspiracy Theorists Caught Cherry Picking Again

Climate deniers have been making a lot of noise about a set of stolen emails from one of the world's leading climate centers, The Universtiy of East Anglia.

The spin they're putting out is that the emails reveal what they always suspected, an evil global conspiracy. In the short video below a climate scientist debunks the so-called debunkers. But i'm sure the denialists and conspiracy will cherry-pick this as well.



From the director of the film below:

Now that the conspiracy theorists have blown off steam, it's time for a more sober analysis of those e-mails and what they mean. I can't go through all of them, there are far too many, and . So I've taken the two that seem to be getting conspiracy theorists most worked up -- Phil Jones's e-mail about "Mike's Nature trick" and Kevin Trenberth's e-mail about a "travesty." I'm glad to see that skeptic websites that cover the science understand what these e-mails actually mean. As you'll see, very few commentators who jumped on the conspiracy bandwagon even before reading the e-mails managed to get it right.

Politicians Talk, Leaders Act

Colin McGinn on New Mysterianism

Colin McGinn is a British philosopher currently working at the University of Miami. McGinn has also held major teaching positions at Oxford University and Rutgers University. Although McGinn has written dozens of articles in philosophical logic, metaphysics, and the philosophy of language, he is best known for his work in the philosophy of mind.

Below is an interview with McGinn about competing theories of mind: