Contemplative Methods Meet Social Sciences

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Bibliographic Data

ID8975118
AuthorsVincenzo Mario Bruno Giorgino (0000-0002-9191-8639, Dept. of Economic and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics University of Torino Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis Torino 10134 Italy, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume45
Issue4
Pages461-483
Publication date2014-11-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal for the Theory of Social Behaviour (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-8308 • E-ISSN: 1468-5914
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jtsb.12078
OpenAlexW2097373431
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited25

The aim of this paper is to trace a pathway connecting contemplative knowledge and practices with the social sciences. Contemplative knowledge and practices offer material for reflection in social science even concerning their very foundation. I'll found an opportunity for meshing our disciplinary tools with this knowledge as I introduced it in a health promotion program. The result will be a transdisciplinary confluence of different lines of inquiry contributing to a new perspective of self and social action. First of all I will give a definition of contemplative knowledge and practices. Then, I will make a bridge between the contemplative approach and the social sciences, showing the contribution that symbolic interactionism can play. I will illustrate the perspective drawing on an action research program called A uriga aimed at smoking cessation and reduction among health professionals. The aim of this paper is focused on the specification of the conceptual background in which such kind of program has been developed. Finally, I outline some implications it could represent for what might be called transformative sociology. I believe that contemplative knowledge could contribute to disentangle some of the unanswered questions and concerns in the social sciences, once they dismiss for a while their scientistic perspective. The secular redefinition of tools mainly belonging to the wisdom traditions represents an innovation that can reshape what we intend by the self and experience, contributing to what is called the “social transformation from within,” a pragmatic and wise approach to change at any level

Action (physics · Contemplation · Epistemology · Perspective (graphical · Social science · Sociology · Transformative learning · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Management and Organizational Studies · Philosophy

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access