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The management of science and the mismanagement of the world

  • Critical Essay
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Knowledge and Policy

Abstract

The truth of a scientific proposition, finding, or an abstract ethical principle is not a static property inherent in it. Truth happens as the result of the management of human affairs. It becomes true, is discovered and made true by actions. Its verity is in fact a series of actions, a process: the process of its implementation. Its validity is gained through what may generally be called “the management of truth: (C. West Churchman and Ian I. Mitroff).

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References

  • James, W. (1991).Pragmatism. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, p. 48.

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  • Lederman, L.M. (1992). The Advancement of Science.Science, 256, May 22, pp. 1119–1124.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, California

    C. West Churchman (professor emeritus)

  2. University of Southern California Center for Crisis Management, Graduate School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

    Ian I. Mitroff (Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy, and Director)

Authors
  1. C. West Churchman
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  2. Ian I. Mitroff
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Additional information

... The truth of an idea is not a stagnant property inherent in it. Truth happens to an idea. It becomes true, is made true by events. Its verity is in fact an event, a process: the process namely of its verifying itself, its verification. Its validity is the process of its validation.

William James

This paper will also appear in the volumeThe Experimenting Society: Policy Essays in Honor of Donald T. Campbell. New Brunswick, N.J., Transaction Publishers, 1994 (in press).

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Churchman, C.W., Mitroff, I.I. The management of science and the mismanagement of the world. Knowledge and Policy 7, 64–80 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02692762

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02692762

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