Title: Against rigid boundaries in social science

Authors: Tim Engartner

Addresses: Institut II – Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Bildungsokonomie und okonomische Bildung, Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultat, Universitat zu Koln, Gronewaldstr, 2 D-50931 Koln, Germany

Abstract: Methods, volumes and aims of social science education still remain remarkably consistent from one German university to another. If the social sciences, especially economics, are to gain greater social relevance and acceptance, researchers must not only relate to the broader public, but also promote intercourse within the ivory tower itself. The latter process has been under way successfully for a number of years in the form of transdisciplinary research initiatives. What is still lacking is a pluralistic approach, i.e., a broad debate about the necessity to face up to opposing views on one and the same topic within our own discipline.

Keywords: controversity; bias; value-free science; schools of thought; pluralism; openness; value judgements; transdisciplinary research; social sciences; economics education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2009.028965

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, 2009 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.58 - 64

Published online: 16 Oct 2009 *

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