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The crisis of knowledge and enlightenment’s imitations 

Summary:
From Asad Zaman and current issue of RWER Our current environmental predicament is fundamentally a crisis of knowledge, rooted in the Enlightenment’s narrow conceptualization of epistemology. This shift fostered an illusion of objectivity that has since permeated our understanding of the world, particularly in the context of societal dynamics. The Enlightenment’s emphasis on objective knowledge marginalized the subjective realms of emotional intelligence, moral intuition, and diverse lived experiences. This exclusion led to a worldview that erroneously equates scientific rationality with absolute truth, consequently overlooking the multifaceted and nuanced nature of human experience and its interaction with the environment. See Zaman (2015) for a detailed discussion of the deification

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from Asad Zaman and current issue of RWER

Our current environmental predicament is fundamentally a crisis of knowledge, rooted in the Enlightenment’s narrow conceptualization of epistemology. This shift fostered an illusion of objectivity that has since permeated our understanding of the world, particularly in the context of societal dynamics. The Enlightenment’s emphasis on objective knowledge marginalized the subjective realms of emotional intelligence, moral intuition, and diverse lived experiences. This exclusion led to a worldview that erroneously equates scientific rationality with absolute truth, consequently overlooking the multifaceted and nuanced nature of human experience and its interaction with the environment. See Zaman (2015) for a detailed discussion of the deification of science.

To truly integrate heart, soul, and lived experiences into our understanding of the world, we must challenge the very notion of objective knowledge as the sole arbiter of truth, especially in the realm of social sciences. For example, Berger and Luckmann (1966) have argued that truth is a social construct.  Society, when viewed as a collective of lived experiences, presents a spectrum of realities, all equally valid yet inherently diverse. This perspective acknowledges that what is considered ‘objective’ often reflects dominant narratives, sidelining alternative ways of experiencing and understanding the world. By embracing this multiplicity of truths, we open ourselves to a richer, more inclusive understanding of our environment and our place within it.  Such a shift in perspective is crucial for addressing the environmental challenges we face, as it fosters a deeper, empathetic connection with the planet and its diverse inhabitants, moving beyond the exploitation and detachment engendered by the Enlightenment’s limited view.  read more

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