M.Anandakrishnan: Interdisciplinary Approach to Knowledge -- An Ethical Perspective

Excerpts from the Key-note address given by Padma Shri M.Anandakrishnan, Chairman MIDS (Madras Institute of Development Studies) and IIT- Kanpur, titled, "Interdisciplinary Approach to Knowledge: An Ethical Perspective" in the Department of Christian Studies, on July 22, 2008 on the occasion of FESTSCHRIFT Release Function in honour of Prof. FELIX WILFRED.

Padma Sri Anandakrishnan

Managing Knowledge

Even as the human quest for new knowledge increases, the rate of generation of new knowledge outpaces the human ability to utilize it. The generation of new knowledge depends upon variety of factors such as the demand for it, creative capability to satisfy the demand, facility to access the existing knowledge bases, ability to make use of the associated knowledge from several disciplines and the degree of societal acceptability of the new knowledge. At the same time the use of the new knowledge in a manner that consistent with human values depends on the prevailing value system in an society and the prevailing standards of ethics.

The manner of creating and utilizing the knowledge is described by a loosely defined term called knowledge management (KM). There are several different aspects to knowledge management such as the processes, methods and techniques or the knowledge systems and related technologies or the knowledge embodied in people and organizations. It is a essentially a holistic and interdisciplinary initiative of every knowledge worker.

A society or organizations within a society consist of many individuals, terms and institutions with a variety knowledge knowledge associated with different disciplines. Effective knowledge management enables these entities to collectively and systematically create, share and apply knowledge systems to achieve their economic and social objectives. It adopts a range of approaches to identify, create, represent, and distribute knowledge.

Interdisciplinary Knowledge

All knowledge systems are intrinsically interdisciplinary. Even a knowledge system based predominantly on a single disciple often depends on other disciplines for survival. Historical evolution of species is an interdisciplinary process. Over the ages the growth of civilizations has taken place by combinations of knowledge and experiences associates with innumerable disciplines of what we now describe as science, technology, humanities, and arts and so on.

Migration and adaptation of concepts and practices from one discipline by others leads to new fields of knowledge. Ability to deal with traditional knowledge systems requires competence in more than one discipline. People familiar with two or more disciplines often detect errors in assumptions committed in one field. Solutions to many socio-economic and strategic problems require interdisciplinary approaches.


It is not possible for any one to claim to know everything about everything, or everything even in a single field. It is prudent to develop the habit of mind to seek for answers from whatever field that is convincing. Persons deeply involved in a single discipline fail to recognize the immense possibilities of borrowing the concepts from other disciplines. As a result the discipline reaches a state of stagnation and compartmentalization.


Persons capable of interdisciplinary approaches are generally inclined towards vigorous defense of freedom of thought and expression in general and specifically in academic and intellectual matters.

Knowledge Domains

In order to bridge the individual concepts and processes of multiple design disciplines, intensive cross-disciplinary communication and information exchange starting from the very early stages of design is necessary.

Interdisciplinary is not confined to cross fertilization of concepts among natural sciences or technologies only but also frequently involves social science and humanities to analyze many complex or practical problems.

The interdisciplinary spirit led to new academic initiatives such as Equity Studies, Social and Regional imbalances, Women's Studies, ethnic Studies and so on.

The narrow vision that has caused the society to pay heavy price can be illustrated by many contemporary examples of development of products and processes.

If interdisciplinary perspectives had governed these developments, the human history during the past two centuries may have been different.

It is generally recognized that ethical issues are central not only in philosophical discourse, but also in all walks of life across a wide range of professional and existential concerns ranging from beginning and end of life issues, business and corporate ethics, medical ethics, ethics in scientific research, including bio-engineering, stem cells and cloning, to ethical conduct in government, public affairs, law and the professions.The central question to be addressed , then, is how can there be a genuine ethics which safeguards human rights and liberties and enhances individual choice while connecting human choices and actions to universal norms valid for all times and places, that is norms which clearly preserve both individuality and universality.

Who can regulate?

Who gets to decide whether we control a new technology, and with what authority?

The answer to the question of who decides the legitimate uses of science is complex. No doubt that it is the democratically constituted political community, acting chiefly through its elected representatives, that is sovereign in these matters and has the authority to control the pace and scope of technological development. However they need the interdisciplinary knowledge and experience to make wise choices and must be guided by the combined efforts of science, theology, philosophy, and politics.

To understand the ethical issues surrounding genetic warfare in terms of religion a quote from Albert Einstein comes to mind: "Science with out religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

Conclusion

Many great scholars issues calls for unified knowledge systems in the face of divisive tendencies within and between the nations, races, religions, sciences and humanities. The scientists of all disciplines and technologists, managers and policy makers should embark upon doing what is possible toward integrating bodies of knowledge created by science for for creating the good society. These domains reach across many levels of complexity, from chemical physics and physical chemistry to molecular genetics, chemical ecology, and ecological genetics.... The social sciences and and humanities should not be impervious to implications of developments in the natural sciences. Hence even at the undergraduate curriculum, the students should be made aware of the relation between science and humanities, and how it is important for human welfare.

Only flow of ideas across the boundaries will provide a clear view of the world as it really is, not seen through the lens of ideologies and religious dogmas or commanded by myopic response to immediate need. History is full of instances of intolerance of free thoughts and stifling of scientific truths on account of blind faith based on dogmas of narrow disciplines.