Integration of knowledge systems: the needs, challenges, and opportunities

• Autorzy: Rao G. P.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

This paper underlines the need for unification of knowledge that illuminates the phenomena and processes in different worlds as is also exemplified by one of the missions of Systems Science. Many of the important problems faced by humanity today are very complex and do not have solutions in the isolated islands of knowledge. As the complexity of these problems is accentuated by their stretching across several diverse disciplines, even teams with deep expertise in the respective fields find the problems quite challenging. The imminent need is to focus on Transdisciplinarity- discovering hidden connections between and establishing a common platform for people from diverse disciplines for a holistic understanding of the problem at hand. Despite the challenges in the task of linking diverse fields there are examples in human history which raise hope as they have clearly benefited our understanding and enriched our civilization. The author discusses two such examples from human history: (1) Philosophy-Mathematics (-Genetics) (2) Various Branches of Physical Sciences. The author then points to the need for further Unity of Knowledge especially between Natural and Social Sciences to enable us to handle complex current problems. The author pins his hope for success in efforts in this direction despite the challenges because of his belief that all branches of knowledge are siblings since they all evolved from a common source- the human intellect. Therefore, there must be some kind of "Genetic Connections" between all of them. It is the responsibility of the human mind itself to unify all its diverse children, each grown to great depths of specialization in isolation, into an "integrated family of knowledge members".

Słowa kluczowe

EN

problem solving; knowledge systems; systems science; transdisciplinarity; knowledge integration

• Wydawca: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej
• Czasopismo: Systems Science
• Rocznik: 2007
• Tom: Vol. 33, no 3
• Strony: 51--57
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 3 poz., rys.

Twórcy

autor

Rao G. P.

• UNESCO-EOLSS Joint Committee P.O. Box 2623, Abu Dhabi, UEA,

Bibliografia

• [1] Daly H., Steady-state Economics, Washington, Island Press, 1991.
• [2] UNESCO-EOLSS, Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK, 2007, http://www.eolss.net
• [3] Somerville M.A., Rapport D., Transdisciplinatiry, Re-Creating Integrated Knowledge, Advances in Sustainable Development, Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK, 2000.