The philosophy of interdisciplinarity

This chapter will first elaborate on the nature of complexity and its central importance to the philosophy of interdisciplinarity. Since complex phenomena, as well as the nature of complexity itself, are dynamic and multifaceted, traditional epistemological strategies are insufficient. Through a brief genealogy of Western philosophical thought, we explore the ways that tradition has systematically narrowed avenues of inquiry, by establishing logic and reason as the sole means for establishing truth claims, and dismissing other ways of knowing. These strategies became institutionalized in the scientific method, which has come to dominate the Western approach to knowledge. Exploring the philosophical development of these ideas will help to demonstrate its pervasiveness, and place the reaction of interdisciplinarity in context. Furthermore, I contend that the philosophy of interdisciplinarity can be effectively applied to comprehend and address complex, even intractable, real world problems. This will be demonstrated through the concept of integrative wisdom, which describes the mindset within which the interdisciplinary philosophical approach is grounded. This approach will lastly be applied to the problem of anthropomorphic climate change.