Program Framework
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Being a World Academy composed of members drawn from the arts, sciences, humanities, business, public administration and civil society poses fundamental questions. How can WAAS distinguish its work from that of other academies? Is there really a common meeting point between art and science? What original contribution can WAAS make to the world’s thought? How can it enhance the effective power of knowledge for the benefit of humanity? At the New Delhi General Assembly, Fellows explored facets of a new program framework, developed by the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC), which seeks to answer these questions in the affirmative. Rather than distinguish itself by confining its focus to particular disciplines, issues or geographic area, the framework is an attempt to formulate a comprehensive and integrated perspective of knowledge inclusive of all disciplinary perspectives and applicable to social problems and opportunities in all fields. |
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Figure 1 Reliable Knowing |
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The core of the framework is a human-centered conception of what constitutes reliable knowing, based on the Foresight Model recommended to the SPC by Ruben Nelson. In his presentation to the GA, Garry Jacobs explained how this conception applies to WAAS’ projects on New Economic Theory, Individuality and Limits to Rationality. Pushpa Bhargava pointed out that a human centered perspective naturally incorporates ecology, since the survival and full development of humanity depends on its capacity to evolve in harmony with the environment. Ivo Šlaus emphasized that the program framework also includes a comprehensive approach to what are often perceived as distinct and separate problems as shown in figure 2. This approach is illustrated by the Academy’s project on Revolution in Human Affairs, which focuses on the linkage between peace, security, democratic freedom, justice, equality, economic prosperity, crime, and terrorism. |
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Figure 2 Comprehensive Approach |
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Recognition that social reality is an integral and organic whole composed of multiple dimensions or aspects naturally leads ustoexamine each issue from a multi or transdisciplinary framework in an effort to capture insights into the total reality of which each is a vital component, as depicted in Figure 3. To illustrate, Winston Nagan pointed out how the Academy’s study of employment incorporates legal, economic, social, political, psychological, demographic, technological, ecological and cultural factors. The framework broadly organizes global issues concerning governance and development under a number of inter-related trust areas: Effective Democracy, Global Security, Ecological Resilience, Development, Educational Advancement, Equitable Prosperity and Cultural Enrichment. For more information, see the presentation and detailed discussion of the Academy’s Vision, Mission and Program Framework and the Report on the Academy’s Recent Program Initiatives |
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Figure 3 Multi & Transdisciplinarity |
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