Print

---

Dear Colleagues,

Here follows a list of problems identified
so far in this thread.

I have added two possible problems taken
from my understanding of Klaus's note.
Not sure if they belong -- they are open
to amendment or deletion.

Do you have any thought on this, Klaus?

Best regards,

Ken Friedman



Problem 1

We do not appear to have a satisfactory definition of design.

Problem 2

Can the academic study of design really be carried out within a
scientific paradigm?

Problem 3

The philosophy of scientific method is in crisis.

Problem 4

There is a problem in contemporary Western philosophy with the status
of knowledge generally.

Problem 5

The problem of incommensurability

Problem 6

Problem of hermeneutic method.

Problem 7

Problem of the rejection of postmodernism as leading to 'nihilistic relativism'

Problem 8

Problem of 'social constructionism'

Problem 9

The problem of reading

Problem 10

The problem of defining what constitutes rightful academic and
scholarly practice in the 21st century is no easy one.

Problem 11

What is science?

Problem 12

What is philosophy?

Problem 13

Is design research beset by positivist fundamentalism?

Problem 14

What is positivism, anyway?

Problem 15

Why are definitions useful?

[possible new problems?]

Problem 16

What do people do when they say that they do science?

Problem 17

What does labeling a particular practice with a given term mean? Why
should we choose the labels we choose?


--

Ken Friedman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Leadership and Strategic Design
Department of Leadership and Organization
Norwegian School of Management

Visiting Professor
Advanced Research Institute
School of Art and Design
Staffordshire University