Title: Facing the tragedy of change in the semiotic process: the role of science

Authors: Mario Giampietro; Zora Kovacic

Addresses: Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain ' Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT), University of Bergen, Parkveien 9, 5020 Bergen, Norway

Abstract: We offer an interpretation of the concepts of integrity and quality of science based on semiotics. Science is a key component of the semiotic process in society, its role being the selection of representations of relevant events for guiding policy with the ultimate goal of preserving society's identity. The fitness of scientific information depends on the definition of its usefulness and relevance, and, therefore, on the identity of the 'self' of the semiotic process. Several distinct definitions of identity co-exist that are negotiated across levels (individuals, households, communities). Growing feelings of belonging to a post-truth world signal a failure in the preservation of the integrity of the semiotic process: scientific crises are coupled with social and political crises in an impredicative way. It is concluded that science should evolve from being a mere source of facts to a source of insights about how to deal with the tragedy of change.

Keywords: semiotic process; integrity and quality in science; post-normal science; post-truth world; tragedy of change; science for governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2019.104729

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2019 Vol.22 No.1/2, pp.88 - 109

Accepted: 04 Sep 2019
Published online: 29 Jan 2020 *

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