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Is Ecosystem Management a Postmodern Science?

Is Ecosystem Management a Postmodern Science?. By: Runey. Overview. Ecosystem – Definitions “Old” classical Ecosystem Ecology “New” classical tradition Post Normal Science Post Modern Science What direction? Discussion. Ecosystems. Ecosystem as an object

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Is Ecosystem Management a Postmodern Science?

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  1. Is Ecosystem Management a Postmodern Science? By: Runey

  2. Overview • Ecosystem – Definitions • “Old” classical Ecosystem Ecology • “New” classical tradition • Post Normal Science • Post Modern Science • What direction? • Discussion

  3. Ecosystems • Ecosystem as an object • Primarily used to study interrelations of biotic and abiotic elements in the ecosystem. (Tansley 1935) • Ecosystem as Theory • Biogeochemistry – flow of matter through a system • Ecological Stoichiometry – balances and ratio of chemical elements • Systems Ecology – Organizational and developmental properties of ecosystems as a whole

  4. Ecosystems (cont) • Ecosystem as Method • Focus on one element of a system and then “zoom out” • Style or philosophy of research

  5. “Old” Classical Tradition • Developed primarily by Eugene and Howard Odum • Objects of study, theory, methodology • Ecology just as much social science as a natural science • Organism-environment relationship • Natural processes offered useful models for sustainable social and economic development

  6. “New” Classical Tradition • Emerged in the 1960’s and 1970’s • More Darwinian in Nature • Against the notion of group selection • Classical theory dealt a heavy blow with George William’s Book Adaptation and Natural Selection

  7. Post Normal? What? • Coined by SilvioFuntowicz and Jerome Ravetz • Vulnerability of industrialized science to corruption • Science as “craft work” and virtues • “Facts are uncertain, values in dispute, stakes high and decisions urgent” • Interdisciplinary – “Extended Peer Community”

  8. Post Modern • Difference between how appears in experience but also independent of experience • Anti-realist view of science • Accuracy of metaphors/diagrams/models

  9. Growth or Freak of Nature • Conceptual shift • Does not see shift as a radical new science

  10. Your Turn! • Do you agree with Funtowicz and Ravetz of the vulnerability of science to corruption? • How do we “bring back” pure science • Metaphors, diagrams, models. Are they accurate? • Do you believe ecosystem ecology in today’s day and age is a new animal or simply evolved?

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