Pluralism, Reflexivity and Critique: Introduction to the Special Issue on Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity

One century after interdisciplinarity’s inception, this special issue on the Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity explores its conceptual and philosophical ramifications, emphasizing pluralism, reflexivity, and critique. Despite the growing significance of interdisciplinarity—and its cognate transdisciplinarity—especially in the last 50 years, philosophical engagement with it has been limited. This reluctance to address interdisciplinarity from a philosophical perspective may stem from the perceived heterogeneity of the field, or from the assumption that interdisciplinarity presents merely a specific instrument or method and not a relevant philosophical topic in itself. However, this special issue contends that interdisciplinarity presents a relevant challenge and opportunity for philosophy, with a key role for its dimensions of plurality as opposed to monism, reductionism and scientific unification. Presenting 11 articles written by scholars representing eight countries, these are grouped under four headings: Plurality of Concepts and Notions, Plurality of Integration, Plurality and Normativity, and Plurality by Valuing Diversity. The editors asked all authors to not only offer philosophical reflections but to connect these with the analysis of one or more practical examples of actual interdisciplinary research to demonstrate the contribution philosophy can make. The headings highlight multiple dimensions of plurality that have an impact on how interdisciplinarity is understood and performed, each deserving philosophical critique and reflection. Arguing for a critical-reflexive philosophy of interdisciplinarity, the editors hope that this collection will advance a philosophy of interdisciplinarity that will critically and reflexively guide inter- and transdisciplinary practice towards a more societally relevant and robust practice, while it may also change the role philosophy can have for the sustainable future of our knowledge societies.