Klaus, you say (and not for a moment to disagree with your agenda for critical social design):
> Natural science theorists describe the world from the position of observers who claim not to interfere with their object of attention.
Which raises some questions:
But what about experimental or laboratory sciences, all of which involve human intervention before observation - and in this sense the “natural" result is mixed with human agency? Or quantum mechanics (even!) where the observation affects the result (but isn’t this true of all observation?).
And what about natural agencies - sentient creatures as agents (humans have no privileged claim to agency), changes in states of nature etc.?
Then what about the baleful effects of thinking there is little or no agency in the natural sciences, and trying to important this ostensible observer-objectivism back into our social research methodologies?
The natural, “observational” sciences could do with a dose of your critical social design.
Bill Cope
> On Jul 16, 2020, at 12:20 PM, Krippendorff, Klaus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> I don’t know your distinction
> David
> Mine is related to human agency.
>
> Natural science theorists describe the world from the position of observers who claim not to interfere with their object of attention. In so doing, theorists may well encounter something that escapes their theories‘ predictions and consider these unpredictable phenomena externalities = the concern of another discipline.
>
> Human agents (this includes designers, politicians and craftsman and women) do not sit there and try to understand the world as passing by In front of their eyes, they intervene to shape it for the benefit of some Communities and often to the detriment of other communities. Naturally, most purposeful actions have unanticipated consequences.
>
> Social scientists seek theories that include the motivations of actors and their power to shape features of the world. But again, when taking the position of observers, social theorists are limited to predict what is determinate, repetitive predictable. The concept of value exemplifies explanations of stable prepositions.
>
> The kind of self-reflective social constructivist inquiry I am pursuing takes into account that all propositions made by social scientists, once communicated to those these propositions are about may change theIt validity. They may be believed, accepted, and enacted as in self fulfilling propositions or they may be opposed making people aware of what they don’t wasn’t to be and invalidate the propositions.
>
> To me this kind of social inquiry could be described as critical social design - critical when aimed at liberating people from r oppressions or making them aware of their unrecognized ability to shape their own lives. It is design not in the sense of imposing an idea rather shaping realities in collaboration with those affected by the propositions=designs.
>
> I am suggesting that designers be educated to be self-reflective and critical actors, able to examine the effects of their unprecedented proposals that encourage yet unrecognized changes to the better, for their stakeholders communities.
>
> Klaus
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jul 16, 2020, at 3:47 AM, Ken Friedman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi, David (and Klaus),
>>
>> In response to Klaus Krippendorff’s recent notes, David Sless wrote, “I agree with much of what you have said as you know. I’d like to push one point just a little further, but to do so we need to make a distinction that goes beyond predictable/unpredictable and consider a realm of non-predictable phenomena generated by people. … Happy to elaborate but that is another thread.”
>>
>> I’m curious, so I’ve started a new thread.
>>
>> Please elaborate!
>>
>> Yours,
>>
>> Ken
>>
>> Ken Friedman, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hc), FDRS | Editor-in-Chief | 设计 She Ji. The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation | Published by Tongji University in Cooperation with Elsevier | URL: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/she-ji-the-journal-of-design-economics-and-innovation/
>>
>> Chair Professor of Design Innovation Studies | College of Design and Innovation | Tongji University | Shanghai, China ||| Eminent Scholar | College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning | University of Cincinnati ||| Email [log in to unmask] | Academia https://tongji.academia.edu/KenFriedman | D&I http://tjdi.tongji.edu.cn
>>
>>
>>
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