Re-Inventing Organic Metaphors for the Social Sciences

The book "Re-Inventing Organic Metaphors for the Social Sciences" aims to challenge psychological understandings by integrating multidimensional perspectives from other scientific fields and embedding knowledge in organic metaphors that facilitate a deeper and more holistic understanding of phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of considering the complex and open-systemic nature of biological, psychological, and social processes, suggesting that organic metaphors can better capture these aspects than mechanical metaphors. The contributors also acted as cross-reviewers, adding extended questions to each paper, fostering dialogue and potential future research directions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 263 pages
Publication date: 26 April 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

The "Re-Inventing Organic Metaphors for the Social Sciences" is a comprehensive volume that aims to challenge psychological understandings by integrating psychological approaches with diverse multidimensional perspectives from various scientific fields. At the same time, it embeds the generated knowledge within metaphors that facilitate researchers in delving deeper into the phenomena, leading to a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of its manifestation. This is particularly crucial when humanity faces challenges arising from systemic biological changes, as the phenomenological dynamics associated with these challenges can be preserved within appropriate contexts. To address this, organic metaphors are introduced as a powerful tool that possesses a central advantage over mechanical metaphors. Unlike mechanical metaphors, which tend to oversimplify and flatten complex phenomena, organic metaphors can capture the intricate and interconnected nature of biological, psychological, and social phenomena. For instance, the widely employed notion of "mind as a computer" may be substituted with "mind as a membrane," which carries implications such as emphasizing the boundaries between entities, as well as the inherent systems within which they exist.

In addition to these opportunities, the contributors to this volume also served as cross-reviewers for each other. This unique aspect introduces a new dimension to the chapter construction process. Alongside the traditional review of another paper, the reviewers were asked to provide a short list of extending questions aimed at the reviewed paper. These added questions serve as potential inquiries that the authors were mandated to address in a final sub-chapter of their contribution. The sub-chapter is titled "Dialogue," giving authors the freedom to select and incorporate questions and ideas that they believe could enrich the discussion.

By incorporating organic metaphors and fostering dialogue, this volume aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of social sciences and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. It encourages researchers to explore new perspectives, challenge established paradigms, and bridge the gaps between different scientific disciplines. The hope is that the insights and perspectives presented in this book will inspire further research and innovation in the field of social sciences, ultimately leading to a more comprehensive and harmonious understanding of the complex world we inhabit.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031266768
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023