Project description
Interactions between indigenous knowledge and science
Indigenous and local communities possess complex biological knowledge in the fields of agriculture, environment and health that is increasingly recognised by scientists. However, deep differences in epistemologies, ontologies and value systems exist between indigenous knowledge and scientists, which raise questions about the possibility of mutual understanding. The EU-funded LOCAL KNOWLEDGE project will create the 'philosophy of ethnobiology' as an interdisciplinary field to study basic methodological issues of cross-cultural interactions in biology and ecology. In addition, the project will fill the gap of interaction between academic philosophy and ethnobiology. The ultimate aim is the development of a structure for accessing cross-cultural collaborations between communities despite deep differences in worldviews.
Objective
Indigenous and other local communities possess complex biological knowledge that is increasingly recognized in collaborative approaches in the agricultural, environmental, and health sciences. However, collaborations between local communities and academically trained scientists are commonly challenged by deep differences in epistemologies, ontologies, and value systems. For example, an Indigenous fisher may be an expert on a local marine ecosystem but rely on spiritual fishing norms and metaphysical assumptions that raise questions about compatibility with academic ecology. This project will develop “philosophy of ethnobiology” as an interdisciplinary meeting ground for addressing foundational methodological issues in cross-cultural negotiations of biological and ecological knowledge. As there has been almost no interaction between academic philosophy and ethnobiology, the project develops an equally ambitious and original program. It provides a framework for approaching cross-cultural collaborations despite deep philosophical differences and for expanding current philosophical debates through global and applied considerations. While I am trained as a philosopher of science, the project will develop an interdisciplinary research methodology that integrates philosophical analysis and empirical collaboration with three ethnobiological research teams in Brazil and Mexico. Furthermore, I have already shown the possibility of bringing these fields together in flagship journals of both philosophy of science and ethnobiology. The unique interdisciplinary methodology and published proofs of concept therefore clearly demonstrate the feasibility of developing “philosophy of ethnobiology” as a meeting ground between foundational and applied concerns of global challenges in the life sciences.
Fields of science
- humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophyepistemology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesfisheries
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesknowledge engineeringontology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciences
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands