Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene

Goh Zhen; Van Breda John

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene

Goh Zhen, Van Breda John

Published in International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Received: 30 March 2022 Accepted: 19 April 2022 Published: 12 May 2022

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Abstract

Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing strategic knowledge of how to navigate different future scenarios practically, taking us from where we are to where we want to be in future. Inextricably linked to this are ethical questions and choices related to the many different ways to act appropriately, fairly and justly on the journey (processes) of transitioning. Inaction in the Anthropocene is arguably the most unethical response imaginable. From a methodological perspective, this is a truly trans-disciplinary challenge. However, trans-disciplinarity is by no means as a methodological panacea. It is much better to imagine trans-disciplinarity as one amongst a number of context- or domain-relevant methodological responses – including mono-, multi- and inter-disciplinarity – on the understanding that trans-disciplinarity is much more specifically focused on and interested in tackling societal challenges that are considered too complex to be addressed strictly from within discrete boundaries of the single disciplines. The methodological agility implied by this should not, however, be confused with the much more onerous Kuhnian notion of ‘paradigm switching’, which is simply too arduous an undertaking for the nimbleness required when facing ever-changing problem situations in the Anthropocene today. In view of the above, the fundamental focus of this paper is on developing such an agile transdisciplinary methodology – with an explicit interest in contributing to the understanding of ways of facilitating the sustainability transitions in the context of the Anthropocene today.

Published in	International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13
Page(s)	41-51
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Trans-disciplinarity, Methodology, Methodological Agility, Complexity, Sustainability Transitions, Anthropocene

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APA Style

Goh Zhen, Van Breda John. (2022). Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 8(2), 41-51. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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ACS Style

Goh Zhen; Van Breda John. Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2022, 8(2), 41-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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AMA Style

Goh Zhen, Van Breda John. Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2022;8(2):41-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13,
  author = {Goh Zhen and Van Breda John},
  title = {Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene},
  journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {41-51},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20220802.13},
  abstract = {Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing strategic knowledge of how to navigate different future scenarios practically, taking us from where we are to where we want to be in future. Inextricably linked to this are ethical questions and choices related to the many different ways to act appropriately, fairly and justly on the journey (processes) of transitioning. Inaction in the Anthropocene is arguably the most unethical response imaginable. From a methodological perspective, this is a truly trans-disciplinary challenge. However, trans-disciplinarity is by no means as a methodological panacea. It is much better to imagine trans-disciplinarity as one amongst a number of context- or domain-relevant methodological responses – including mono-, multi- and inter-disciplinarity – on the understanding that trans-disciplinarity is much more specifically focused on and interested in tackling societal challenges that are considered too complex to be addressed strictly from within discrete boundaries of the single disciplines. The methodological agility implied by this should not, however, be confused with the much more onerous Kuhnian notion of ‘paradigm switching’, which is simply too arduous an undertaking for the nimbleness required when facing ever-changing problem situations in the Anthropocene today. In view of the above, the fundamental focus of this paper is on developing such an agile transdisciplinary methodology – with an explicit interest in contributing to the understanding of ways of facilitating the sustainability transitions in the context of the Anthropocene today.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene
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AU  - Van Breda John
Y1  - 2022/05/12
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AB  - Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing strategic knowledge of how to navigate different future scenarios practically, taking us from where we are to where we want to be in future. Inextricably linked to this are ethical questions and choices related to the many different ways to act appropriately, fairly and justly on the journey (processes) of transitioning. Inaction in the Anthropocene is arguably the most unethical response imaginable. From a methodological perspective, this is a truly trans-disciplinary challenge. However, trans-disciplinarity is by no means as a methodological panacea. It is much better to imagine trans-disciplinarity as one amongst a number of context- or domain-relevant methodological responses – including mono-, multi- and inter-disciplinarity – on the understanding that trans-disciplinarity is much more specifically focused on and interested in tackling societal challenges that are considered too complex to be addressed strictly from within discrete boundaries of the single disciplines. The methodological agility implied by this should not, however, be confused with the much more onerous Kuhnian notion of ‘paradigm switching’, which is simply too arduous an undertaking for the nimbleness required when facing ever-changing problem situations in the Anthropocene today. In view of the above, the fundamental focus of this paper is on developing such an agile transdisciplinary methodology – with an explicit interest in contributing to the understanding of ways of facilitating the sustainability transitions in the context of the Anthropocene today.
VL  - 8
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Author Information

Goh Zhen

Emerginarium Pte Ltd, Singapore
Van Breda John

Centre for Sustainaibility Transitions, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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Goh Zhen, Van Breda John. (2022). Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 8(2), 41-51. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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ACS Style

Goh Zhen; Van Breda John. Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2022, 8(2), 41-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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AMA Style

Goh Zhen, Van Breda John. Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2022;8(2):41-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13,
  author = {Goh Zhen and Van Breda John},
  title = {Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene},
  journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {41-51},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20220802.13},
  abstract = {Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing strategic knowledge of how to navigate different future scenarios practically, taking us from where we are to where we want to be in future. Inextricably linked to this are ethical questions and choices related to the many different ways to act appropriately, fairly and justly on the journey (processes) of transitioning. Inaction in the Anthropocene is arguably the most unethical response imaginable. From a methodological perspective, this is a truly trans-disciplinary challenge. However, trans-disciplinarity is by no means as a methodological panacea. It is much better to imagine trans-disciplinarity as one amongst a number of context- or domain-relevant methodological responses – including mono-, multi- and inter-disciplinarity – on the understanding that trans-disciplinarity is much more specifically focused on and interested in tackling societal challenges that are considered too complex to be addressed strictly from within discrete boundaries of the single disciplines. The methodological agility implied by this should not, however, be confused with the much more onerous Kuhnian notion of ‘paradigm switching’, which is simply too arduous an undertaking for the nimbleness required when facing ever-changing problem situations in the Anthropocene today. In view of the above, the fundamental focus of this paper is on developing such an agile transdisciplinary methodology – with an explicit interest in contributing to the understanding of ways of facilitating the sustainability transitions in the context of the Anthropocene today.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene
AU  - Goh Zhen
AU  - Van Breda John
Y1  - 2022/05/12
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13
T2  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
JF  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
JO  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
SP  - 41
EP  - 51
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1832
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20220802.13
AB  - Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing strategic knowledge of how to navigate different future scenarios practically, taking us from where we are to where we want to be in future. Inextricably linked to this are ethical questions and choices related to the many different ways to act appropriately, fairly and justly on the journey (processes) of transitioning. Inaction in the Anthropocene is arguably the most unethical response imaginable. From a methodological perspective, this is a truly trans-disciplinary challenge. However, trans-disciplinarity is by no means as a methodological panacea. It is much better to imagine trans-disciplinarity as one amongst a number of context- or domain-relevant methodological responses – including mono-, multi- and inter-disciplinarity – on the understanding that trans-disciplinarity is much more specifically focused on and interested in tackling societal challenges that are considered too complex to be addressed strictly from within discrete boundaries of the single disciplines. The methodological agility implied by this should not, however, be confused with the much more onerous Kuhnian notion of ‘paradigm switching’, which is simply too arduous an undertaking for the nimbleness required when facing ever-changing problem situations in the Anthropocene today. In view of the above, the fundamental focus of this paper is on developing such an agile transdisciplinary methodology – with an explicit interest in contributing to the understanding of ways of facilitating the sustainability transitions in the context of the Anthropocene today.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

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