Combining biosemiotics and post-normal science to study the formation and adaptation of the identity of modern society
Giampietro, Mario (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	This paper draws on biosemiotics to reflect on the role that scientific inquiry plays in generating (useful) inputs to the process of decision making. In particular, the social theory of Luhmann is used to postulate that the formation of society's identity requires the effective integration of two interrelated processes: (1) self-organization, a biophysical process that requires guided interactions based on effective rules (physical or tangible perspective), and (2) self-referential autopoiesis, a socio-psychological process that demands a communication process capable of preserving shared values (notional or abstract perspective). Rules are based on explanation narratives that are useful for improving interactions. Values are based on the emergence of societal myths and socio-technical imaginaries that fuel the concerns requiring collective action. It is argued that in the process of decision-making, rules (stored in a common memory) and values (generated by the psychic structure) affect each other in an impredicative way. The reproduction and updating of a given identity of society therefore would require a systemic quality check on the whole process of production and use of scientific information for decision-making, and hence a negotiation based on a mix of technical, moral, political, and ethical issues.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CEX2019-000940-M
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Biosemiotics ; Complex systems ; Science for governance ; Evidence-based policymaking ; Identity ; Psychic structure
Published in:	Futures, Vol. 161 (August 2024) , art. 103414, ISSN 1873-6378

DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2024.103414

14 p, 3.9 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles