21
2
From the Mainstreaming of
Western Science to the
Co-Evolution of
Different Sciences
Addressing Cognitive Injustice
Bertus Haverkort
Retired agricultural development specialist and author
INTRODUCTION: CULTURES, WORLDVIEWS AND SCIENCES
Presently, the mainstream, Western-based ( or modern) sciences are taught, developed and
applied in all corners of the globe and have a very strong position because of the attribution
of their effectiveness, reliability, applicability and their funding and recognition by the main
private and public actors. Yet, till today there is still a great diversity of ways in which different
people in different cultures acquire and process knowledge and formulate their own sciences.
How people actually know and handle knowledge depends on the worldviews of particular
knowledge communities, and the methods they use for learning, their logic and values. Even
though mainstream sciences often displace local ( or native or indigenous) sciences, a considerable number of local sciences are still being applied, and reproduce themselves despite their
marginal position. Over the last two decades, there are a number of initiatives that aim at
CONTENTS
Introduction: Cultures, Worldviews and Sciences ........................................................................... 21
Understanding Mind and Matter ...................................................................................................... 22
Agricultural Practices from Different Worldviews .......................................................................... 23
Specific Agricultural Practices ......................................................................................................... 27
Sri Lanka: Mantras, Yantras and Kems ...................................................................................28
Agnihotra in India ................................................................................................................... 29
Sacrifices and Festivals in the Andes ...................................................................................... 29
Seeking Ancestral Support in Africa ....................................................................................... 29
Harmonising the Earth and Cosmic Forces in Europe ............................................................ 29
The Trans-Cultural Notion of Science and Its Co-Evolution ........................................................... 31
Scenarios for Inter-Science Relations: From Domination to Complementarity .............................. 33
Possible Challenges and Opportunities ............................................................................................34
Redefining the Role of Universities ........................................................................................34
Dealing with the Strong and Weak Points within the Dominant Forms of Knowledge ......... 36
Challenging the Dominant Worldview and Epistemology ..................................................... 36
Conclusion: Dialogues between and about Sciences ....................................................................... 36
References ........................................................................................................................................ 37
DOI: 10.1201/9780429440939-3
2
From the Mainstreaming of
Western Science to the
Co-Evolution of
Different Sciences
Addressing Cognitive Injustice
Bertus Haverkort
Retired agricultural development specialist and author
INTRODUCTION: CULTURES, WORLDVIEWS AND SCIENCES
Presently, the mainstream, Western-based ( or modern) sciences are taught, developed and
applied in all corners of the globe and have a very strong position because of the attribution
of their effectiveness, reliability, applicability and their funding and recognition by the main
private and public actors. Yet, till today there is still a great diversity of ways in which different
people in different cultures acquire and process knowledge and formulate their own sciences.
How people actually know and handle knowledge depends on the worldviews of particular
knowledge communities, and the methods they use for learning, their logic and values. Even
though mainstream sciences often displace local ( or native or indigenous) sciences, a considerable number of local sciences are still being applied, and reproduce themselves despite their
marginal position. Over the last two decades, there are a number of initiatives that aim at
CONTENTS
Introduction: Cultures, Worldviews and Sciences ........................................................................... 21
Understanding Mind and Matter ...................................................................................................... 22
Agricultural Practices from Different Worldviews .......................................................................... 23
Specific Agricultural Practices ......................................................................................................... 27
Sri Lanka: Mantras, Yantras and Kems ...................................................................................28
Agnihotra in India ................................................................................................................... 29
Sacrifices and Festivals in the Andes ...................................................................................... 29
Seeking Ancestral Support in Africa ....................................................................................... 29
Harmonising the Earth and Cosmic Forces in Europe ............................................................ 29
The Trans-Cultural Notion of Science and Its Co-Evolution ........................................................... 31
Scenarios for Inter-Science Relations: From Domination to Complementarity .............................. 33
Possible Challenges and Opportunities ............................................................................................34
Redefining the Role of Universities ........................................................................................34
Dealing with the Strong and Weak Points within the Dominant Forms of Knowledge ......... 36
Challenging the Dominant Worldview and Epistemology ..................................................... 36
Conclusion: Dialogues between and about Sciences ....................................................................... 36
References ........................................................................................................................................ 37
DOI: 10.1201/9780429440939-3