Dear Rosan,
Please don't apologize any more. The questions are interesting.
It appears to me that you are beginning to ask some focusing questions
about the nature of pluralism--and its eventual application to design
inquiry. To me, this is a useful line of thought, particularly at the
beginning, when there are so many competing claims about the nature of
design. Sounds like some reading is called for. Your strategy may be
to locate two or three good books or articles on the theme and see what
you can figure out.
Two suggestions:
1. There is a new book out called "Pluralism in Theory and Practice."
It is from Vanderbilt University, and the editors are Eugene Garver and
Richard Buchanan. There are some pretty good essays there, by some
pretty well-known people in philosophy, literature, social science,
etc.. The focus is partly Richard McKeon, but the essays range widely.
2. Look for Richard McKeon, "Communication, Truth, and Society," in
"Freedom and History and other Essays by Richard McKeon." University of
Chicago Press, edited by Zahava McKeon. Richard McKeon is a key figure
in 20th century discussions of pluralism. You may find other essays
interesting as well. The Introduction is quite good.
Don't take forever reading these--the nature of pluralism is a complex
philosophic problem in the 20th century--but read them for ideas on how
you may begin to make sense out of the diversity of design theories.
I could suggest others in design literature, but you'll find them
eventually. We use some of the McKeon work in our first graduate
seminar to sort out theories of design and interaction.
Just a thought.
Dick
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