Abstract
Starting from a perspective of philosophy of scientific practice, this chapter addresses some epistemological issues that emerge when we deal with organized complexities and their dynamics. After analyzing a convergence in the discussion about complexity and its explanatory accounts in organization sciences and management, similarities with life sciences are explored by looking at (i) the biology of cancer as a paradigmatic case, and (ii) scientific and philosophical discussions around the systemic organization and development of organisms. This analysis identifies, in a concept of management embedded in control theory and organization, components seen as rational agents modeled on or standardized with the self-interest paradigm – an equivalent of reductionist approaches in life sciences. Reasons are then offered for inquiring differently about how the components/individuals are conceptualized, even when we think of reasoning in systemic terms. A heterogeneity of the components – considered through the lens of a relational epistemology – comes to be the most relevant feature of living and adaptive systems, and common to organizations.
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Bertolaso, M. (2022). Complexity and Management: Epistemic Insights from the Life Sciences. In: Neesham, C., Reihlen, M., Schoeneborn, D. (eds) Handbook of Philosophy of Management. Handbooks in Philosophy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76606-1_47
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