Different modes of thinking are associated with different possibilities for understanding and acting in the ‘complex world’ and to attempt to affect and manage change through a variety of different types of interventions, with different consequences and effects. 

A variety of modes of thinking (not always explicitly recognised), with different underlying worldviews, co-exist within the fuzzy boundaries of the broadly defined domain of Complexity Studies and its related or neighbour domains (e.g. systems science; cybernetics). This workshop is grounded in the idea that the complexity of our world, namely our social and ecological systems requires modes of thinking that are commensuraly congruent with their complexity. In order to manage this complexity it is necessary to manage the relation between different modes of thinking. The construction of better futures (for all) is dependent on the nature of the relations underlying the structure and dynamics of rich ecologies of knowledge and the modes of thinking that build them.

This workshop embraces the urgency of reflecting upon the possibilities and limitations afforded by different modes of thinking (in) Complexity and of building more complex and adaptive modes. Different modes of thinking are associated with different possibilities for understanding and acting in the ‘complex world’ and to attempt to affect and manage change through a variety of different types of interventions, with different consequences and effects. 

A variety of modes of thinking (not always explicitly recognised), with different underlying worldviews, co-exist within the fuzzy boundaries of the broadly defined domain of Complexity Studies and its related or neighbour domains (e.g. systems science; cybernetics). This workshop is grounded in the idea that the complexity of our world, namely our social and ecological systems requires modes of thinking that are commensuraly congruent with their complexity. In order to manage this complexity it is necessary to manage the relation between different modes of thinking. The construction of better futures (for all) is dependent on the nature of the relations underlying the structure and dynamics of rich ecologies of knowledge and the modes of thinking that build them.

This workshop embraces the urgency of reflecting upon the possibilities and limitations afforded by different modes of thinking (in) Complexity and of building more complex and adaptive modes. It adopts a collaborative and dialogical format, based on a methodology specifically designed to support complex relational dialogues and facilitate emergence (e.g. of new ideas; approaches; levels of understanding; solutions or approaches). This workshop aims at identifying key theoretical, empirical methodological and pragmatic challenges and questions pertaining to how we think, build, coordinate and practice different Modes of Thinking (in) Complexity.

COORDINATION | This workshop is an activity of the Building Foundations for Complex Thinking project

Organising Committee: Ana Teixeira de Melo1 (Coord.), Leo Simon Dominic Caves2, Carlos Gershenson3, 5, Charbel El-Hani4 5; Letícia Renault 6

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1 Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal; PI of the Building Foundations for Complex Thinking

2 Independent researcher, Portugal; Associate York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis; Collaborator of the Centre for Philosophy of Sciences of the University of Lisbon; University of the Azores, Portugal; Co-I of the Building Foundations for Complex Thinking

3 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

4 Federal University of Bahia, Brazil

5 Guest Co-organisers invited by the Building Foundations for Complex Thinking project

6 Independent Researcher; Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal;

The study of complex systems has led to deep transformations in our modes of thinking, challenging our conceptions of reality and, with them, our roles and possibilities for action as agents in a complex world (Morin, 2005; Heylighen, Cillier & Gershenson, 2006). A variety of modes of thinking co-exists within the fuzzy boundaries of the domain of Complexity Studies. Different modes of thinking complexity and of thinking ‘in’ complexity (enacting its principles) can be identified in the literature, albeit not always explicitly recognised (Melo et al. 2019). These modes of thinking somehow simultaneously express and are expressed in, shape and are shaped, constitute and are constituted, transform and are transformed by different worldviews (which encompass ontologies, epistemologies, prediction frames, axiologies, praxeologies; Vidal, 2008). Worldviews and modes of thinking are intrinsically related, albeit neither directly mapped nor reduced to each other. Different modes of thinking will present different potentialities and limitations in relation to how these worldviews are constructed, enacted, operationalised and transformed in the process of developing theory, research and practice.

Different modes of thinking will build different types and levels of capacity to understand as well as to affect and manage change in the ‘real-world’ and even to lead to a transformation of our worldviews.

Different modes of thinking in Science, will differ in a number of dimensions, for instance, in relation to:

• the way key theoretical questions are defined and translated into research problems;

• the way they inform choices regarding the construction, selection and adaptation of methodologies and methods, impacting on the way data are interpreted;

• the extent to which they are embedded in ‘real-world’ practices (e.g. interventions for the management of change in complex systems; formal and informal education in ‘Complexity’ themes);

• the effects of the choices they inform on the target systems;

• the extent to which they inform the development of strategies and tools for their own development and management;

• their congruence with particular worldviews and their underlying assumptions;

• the concepts and processes used to assemble worldviews and to investigate their empirical foundation.

This workshop is grounded in the idea that Science should nurture a second-order, self-critical and reflexive stance (Müller, 2016; Morin, 2005) and that the study of complex adaptive systems should be embedded in the organising principles similar to the systems it studies and aims to affect (Morin, 2005; Melo, 2020). Nevertheless, it recognises that even this ambition is grounded in particular worldviews and modes of thinking that are not necessarily shared by all. Hence, it affirms the need to build rich ecologies of knowledge (Santos, 2018) and ways of knowing,exploring the potential of different types of relations between different modes of thinking and their corresponding worldviews and implications.

This workshop assumes that the Philosophy of Science and the Philosophy of Complexity are critical partners to Science and that the practice of Science should be accompanied by philosophical investigations as well as deep Inter and Transdisciplinary dialogues aiming to construct the requisite variety of perspectives and modes of thinking for truly embracing (Morin, 2005) as well as performing (Melo, 2020) Complexity for creatively building transformative futures.

This workshop calls for wide participation of academics and researchers from a variety of domains with an interest in Complexity Studies and related fields, as well as practitioners, educators, policy-makers, community leaders, artists and other individuals with an interest in Complexity. This workshop requires a minimal familiarity with key concepts and ideas related to the study of Complex Systems. Upon request the organisers may provide a list of introductory readings

This workshop calls for wide participation of academics and researchers from a variety of domains with an interest in Complexity Studies and related fields, as well as practitioners, educators, policy-makers, community leaders, artists and other individuals with an interest in Complexity. This workshop requires a minimal familiarity with key concepts and ideas related to the study of Complex Systems. Upon request the organisers may provide a list of introductory readings

This workshop is organised around the following questions:

(i) What are key challenges (theoretical, empirical, methodological, pragmatic) to address regarding Modes of Thinking (in) Complexity?

(i) What key questions need to be raised about thinking Modes of Thinking (in) Complexity?

(iii) How do different modes of thinking (in) complexity (and which) relate to each other? How does their relationship support the development of Complexity Studies and our capacity to understand and manage Complexity?

(iv) How can/must we think worldviews in relation to Modes of Thinking (in) Complexity and may this impact Complexity Studies?

(v) How can different modes of thinking (in) complexity be organised and coordinated in ways that afford new and enlarged possibilities for thinking and action? How can they be explored, developed, practised or applied and what are the core challenges to be addressed in this regard?

(vi) What implications of our Modes of Thinking (in) Complexity for applied or real/-world interventions and for education?

This workshop adopts a collaborative and dialogical format, based on a methodology specifically designed to support complex relational dialogues and facilitate emergence (e.g. of new ideas; new levels of understanding; solutions or approaches). Participants will be invited to make contributions to a dialogue, relating their positions to those of others, focusing on the key questions organising the event.

This workshop will build upon ideas previously presented and discussed in a workshop that took place on the 22nd of October as a Satellite Meeting to the Conference on Complex Systems 2021. A brief summary of the first meeting will be sent to all participants prior to registration. Participation in the current workshop is not dependent upon participation on the previous one.

The workshop will run fully online and will use both the platforms Zoom and Miro (It is not just another Zoom event! The event will build upon dynamic and interactive activities to stimulate deep discussions). The Miro will be used as a collaborative interactive platform where some activities will take place. A tutorial video will be sent before the meeting with basic instructions on how to operate on Miro. Because the time available for participants to know each other and interact informally will be limited, preliminary ‘warm-up’ interactive activities will take place on Miro before the event. Participants will be encouraged to participate in these activities and may access the board during the event. Nevertheless this is not mandatory or required and the activities will be facilitated and screen sharing will take place so that everyone can follow the movements on the Miro board.

Between sessions, participants will also be invited to interact in a space created in https://www.gather.town/, where different types of social, ice-breaking and more informal activities will take place to promote mutual knowledge and exchange as well as complementary and follow-up discussions related to the event.

The workshop is divided into three blocks of time, to facilitate participation from people in different time zones. Participants may choose to take part in the event for the whole time or choose a particular time block. Please consult  the schedule here. Participants that do not participate in previous blocks will be sent summary snapshots of the ideas left on the board. They may also access the Miro board before their session to check the legacy of previous groups.

Participants will be required to keep their video cameras turned on during the entire session. They need stable and robust internet connections. Participants will need to consent to the conditions for participation which include conditions regarding the communication and dissemination of the outcomes and outputs of the event. Please read here a preview of these conditions.

This event will be recorded and be a part of a small evaluation case study. Participants will be required to provide explicit consent and agreement with a particular set of conditions for participation upon registration.

This is a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative workshop. This is not an event to “just listen and watch” but where everyone will be called to participate, in some way. Participants will be required to respect the times defined for their interventions and to use language accessible to an educated audience. They may assume a minimal familiarity of the group with Complexity and Complex Systems related concepts but not necessarily expertise. Therefore they should avoid very specialised technical jargon and make an effort to explain their ideas and concepts as clearly as possible.

Please find information about the registration here

More information here