Multidisciplinarity and the Future of Knowledge

Overcoming Disciplinary Barriers

Disciplines are historically established divisions of labor in science. In the nineteenth century, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology separated—this allowed for specialization and deeper study. In the twentieth century, problems arose that could not be solved within the framework of a single discipline.

Climatology is physics, chemistry, biology, economics, politics, and psychology together. Neuroscience is biology, physics, psychology, computer science, and philosophy. Complexity does not fit into disciplinary boxes.

E.O. Wilson and Consilience

Edward Wilson ("Consilience", 1998): the unity of knowledge is not reductionism (everything is reduced to physics), but mutual illumination of disciplines. Evolutionary biology sheds light on ethics, anthropology, and psychology. This is more productive than complete autonomy of disciplines.

The challenge for education: how to train specialists who know their field deeply and are able to speak the language of others?

Question for reflection: Which knowledge from "neighboring" disciplines is most valuable for your profession? How do you systematically replenish it?