Prospects of Integrating Transdisciplinarity and Systems Thinking in the Historical Framework of Various Socio-Cultural Contexts

Abstract

During the 20th century, science generally advanced within a dual ideological context of capitalism and socialism. In capitalism, development of science has been of an evolutionary nature. However, it had been developing according to a revolutionary pattern within the framework of socialism. These two opposing ideologies were expected to achieve different scientific developments. By the early 21st century, however, it was clear that these ideological differences did not significantly influence the overall evolution of science. Moreover, modern science continues to advance steadily toward greater development of general systems theory and transdisciplinarity. By integrating these ideas into one meta-discipline (systems transdisciplinarity) it is possible to finalize the unification and generalization of disciplinary knowledge and scientific worldviews. Consequently, systems transdisciplinarity that seamlessly combines the advantages of academic and systems approaches has every chance of becoming an effective tool to address today’s wicked problems.