Repensando la ciencia

Frente a la ciencia tradicional o positivista que se coloca fuera de la historia, de la cultura y del lenguaje, el autor presenta el pensamiento de Sarkar, quien no argumenta por una posición anti-ciencia, anti-tecnología ni cae en una ciencia que existe fuera de lo social y lo político, sino contextualizada, abogando por una nueva ciencia de la sociedad. El trabajo plantea relevantes preguntas como: ¿En qué dirección se moverán luego las ciencias sociales: hacia la empatía e interpretación o hacia el desinterés y distancia? ¿Estamos nosotros cerca de perder los universales ya que el poder y el conocimiento son localizados y relativizados? ¿O es un nuevo modelo de lo real cercano de llegar a ser dominante que reformula estas categorías de "ciencia", "local" y "universal"?Face à la science traditionnelle ou positiviste qui se trouve située en dehors de l’histoire, de la culture et du langage, l’auteur présente la pensée de Sarkar, qui ne soutient pas une position anti-science, anti-technologie, et ne tombe pas non plus dans une science qui existe indépendamment de la dimension sociale et politique, mais contextualisées, défendant une nouvelle science de la société. Le travail formule des questions pertinentes telles que : quelles seront les orientations empruntées par les sciences sociales : vers l’empathie et l’interprétation ou bien vers le désintérêt et la distanciation ? Sommes-nous sur le point de perdre les universels étant donné que le pouvoir et la connaissance sont localisés et relativisés ? ou bien s’agit-il d’un nouveau modèle du réel sur le point de se convertir en dominant qui reformule les catégories de « science », « local » et « universel » ?Faced with the traditional or positivist science that stands outside history, culture and language, the author presents the thinking of Sarkar, who does not argue for an anti-science, anti-technology or falls into a science that would exist outside the social and political, but one within context, arguing for a new science of society. This paper raises important questions, such as: in what direction will then move social sciences: towards empathy and interpretation or towards disinterest and distance? Are we close to losing the universal perspectives as power and knowledge are localized and relativized? Or we are dealing with a new model of the real close, that becoming dominant will reformulate the categories of "science", "local" and "universal"

Exploring Alternative Futures in the Anthropocene

Many challenges posed by the current Anthropocene epoch require fundamental transformations to humanity’s relationships with the rest of the planet. Achieving such transformations requires that humanity improve its understanding of the current situation and enhance its ability to imagine pathways toward alternative, preferable futures. We review advances in addressing these challenges that employ systematic and structured thinking about multiple possible futures (futures-thinking). Over seven decades, especially the past two, approaches to futures-thinking have helped people from diverse backgrounds reach a common understanding of important issues, underlying causes, and pathways toward optimistic futures. A recent focus has been the stimulation of imagination to produce new options. The roles of futures-thinking in breaking unhelpful social addictions and in conflict resolution are key emerging topics. We summarize cognitive, cultural, and institutional constraints on the societal uptake of futures-thinking, concluding that none are insurmountable once understood

Exploring Alternative Futures in the Anthropocene

Many challenges posed by the current Anthropocene epoch require fundamental transformations to humanity's relationships with the rest of the planet. Achieving such transformations requires that humanity improve its understanding of the current situation and enhance its ability to imagine pathways toward alternative, preferable futures. We review advances in addressing these challenges that employ systematic and structured thinking about multiple possible futures (futures-thinking). Over seven decades, especially the past two, approaches to futures-thinking have helped people from diverse backgrounds reach a common understanding of important issues, underlying causes, and pathways toward optimistic futures. A recent focus has been the stimulation of imagination to produce new options. The roles of futures-thinking in breaking unhelpful social addictions and in conflict resolution are key emerging topics. We summarize cognitive, cultural, and institutional constraints on the societal uptake of futures-thinking, concluding that none are insurmountable once understood

Alternative Futures for Muslims: Challenges to Linear and Cyclical Macrohistory

6 page(s

Deconstructing the year 2000

Like death, the West has become ubiquitous. But will hegemony continue and are there any signals of possible transformation from within and without? Four alternatives for the West are developed. (1) A dramatic ageing population leading to a future where immigrants are required for survival, however, once in the holy land of Disney, multiculturalism may make porous the West itself. (2) Genocide against the Other, resisting internal transformative processes and (3) the Artificial Society, wherein diversity and the Other are pushed back since high productivity can be achieved through the new information and genetic technologies, that is, through reductionist science and linear economic progress. While the latter technocratic scenario is most likely, there are possibilities that a more multicultural, gaian, communicative, globalist future may emerge.9 page(s

Editorial : Tips and pitfalls of the futures studies trade

This essay outlines some of the crucial points to be taken into consideration by futurists-in-training in order to avoid the many mistakes which can be easily made. These comprise right timing, real participation, scenarios, developing a preferred vision of the future, using metaphors, using mixed approaches, depth, the surprise future and implementation. The role of the futurist is long term pedagogy, finding solutions for current problems by challenging administrative structures and asking individuals to rethink how and why they do certain things. The reality of practice and idealism of vision is what will create an alternative future.6 page(s

Editorial : Questioning scenarios

6 page(s

A Post Howard-Costello scenario : Australia 2026

Drawing inspiration from the recent Australian Association for Environmental Education conference, this essay paints a different possible scenario for the future of Australia.4 page(s

Changing the health story from passive acceptance to active foresight

7 page(s