TY - JOUR

T1 - Solvable problems or problematic solvability?

T2 - Problem conceptualization in transdisciplinary sustainability research and a possible epistemological contribution

AU - Meyer, Esther

PY - 2020/3

Y1 - 2020/3

N2 - Problem orientation plays a significant role in emerging transdisciplinary sustainability research (TSR), where the assumption of solvability resonates with the term “problem” yet is not questioned from a sustainability perspective. This paper questions the meaning of “problems” in and for TSR from a discourse studies perspective. The results of a collocation and concordance analysis of the term “problem(s)” in GAIA articles show that sustainability-oriented problem-solving is explicated normatively as a key research goal. In the analyzed articles, emphasis is put on how to proceed towards this goal through research process analysis. This paper begins by analyzing the meaning of “problems” before seeking to orientate TSR in terms of how knowledge could be conceptualized. This is supported by the epistemological concept of the problematic, which originates from 20 th century French philosophy. It proves helpful to discuss how TSR can be epistemologically grasped, and thereby strengthened in its transformative potential.

AB - Problem orientation plays a significant role in emerging transdisciplinary sustainability research (TSR), where the assumption of solvability resonates with the term “problem” yet is not questioned from a sustainability perspective. This paper questions the meaning of “problems” in and for TSR from a discourse studies perspective. The results of a collocation and concordance analysis of the term “problem(s)” in GAIA articles show that sustainability-oriented problem-solving is explicated normatively as a key research goal. In the analyzed articles, emphasis is put on how to proceed towards this goal through research process analysis. This paper begins by analyzing the meaning of “problems” before seeking to orientate TSR in terms of how knowledge could be conceptualized. This is supported by the epistemological concept of the problematic, which originates from 20 th century French philosophy. It proves helpful to discuss how TSR can be epistemologically grasped, and thereby strengthened in its transformative potential.

KW - collocation analysis

KW - complexity

KW - computer-assisted discourse studies (CADS)

KW - concordance analysis

KW - epistemology

KW - GAIA journal

KW - problematic

KW - transdisciplinary sustainability research

KW - wicked problems

KW - Transdisciplinary studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85093895501&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.14512/gaia.29.1.8

DO - 10.14512/gaia.29.1.8

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 29

SP - 34

EP - 39

JO - GAIA

JF - GAIA

SN - 0940-5550

IS - 1

ER -