‘Indigenous Knowledge’ and ‘Science’: Reframing the Debate on Knowledge Diversity

Abstract

________________________________________________________________Responding to Kai Horsthemke's call for the valorisation of universal knowledge within the debate on indigenous knowledge, the paper argues for an understanding of knowledge that is based neither universalism nor relativism. Arguing against the dualisms of 'indigenous knowledge' and 'science', the paper proposes that the debate be focused rather on knowledge diversity. Drawing on the work of Nelson Goodman and Catherine Elgin, the paper argues that diverse epistemologies ought to be evaluated not on their capacity to express a strict realism but on their ability to advance understanding. Such an approach allows for the evaluation of the advancement of understanding without necessarily requiring the expression of the literal truths that divide 'belief' from 'knowledge'. ________________________________________________________________Resumen: Respondiendo a la valorizació n del conocimiento universal exhortada por Kai Horsthemke en el marco del debate sobre conocimiento indígena, este artículo discute un entendimiento de conocimiento que no está basado en el relativismo ni en el universalismo. Argumentando en contra de las dualidades entre ''conocimiento indígena'' y ''ciencia'', el trabajo propone que el debate más bien se centre en la diversidad del conocimiento. Tomando del trabajo de Nelson Goodman y Catherine Elgin, este artículo sostiene que la diversidad de epistemologías debe ser evaluada no en términos de su capacidad para expresar un realismo estricto, sino en su capacidad para promover la comprensió n. Este enfoque permite evaluar el avance del entendimiento sin requerir necesariamente la expresió n de verdades literales que separan ''creencia'' de ''conocimiento''. ________________________________________________________________Résumé: En réponse à l'appel de Kai Horsthemke pour la valorisation de la connaissance universelle, en lien avec le débat sur la connaissance autochtone, cet article argumente en faveur d'une compréhension de la connaissance basée sur l'universalité et le relativisme. En argumentant contre le dualisme de la connaissance autochtone et de la science, cet article propose que le débat soit plutô t centré sur la diversité de la connaissance. En s'inspirant du travail de Nelson Goodman et Catherine Elgin, cet article propose que diverses épistémologies méritent d'être évaluées selon leur habilité à améliorer la compréhension, plutô t que selon leur capacité à exprimer la stricte réalité. Ce type d'approche permet d'évaluer la progression de la compréhension sans nécessairement exiger l'expression de la vérité exacte qui divise la « croyance » de la « connaissance ».

Participatory GIS to mitigate conflicts between reindeer husbandry and forestry in Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden

“…Although the work on Reindeer Husbandry Plans follows some of the common techniques of indigenous mapping (Dove 2006, Green 2008, the methods used by the two reindeer-herding communities in Vilhelmina are unique in that all of the actual data collection and compilation is carried out by the end-user-the reindeer-herders themselves-rather than by outside experts who interview, sketch and later transcribe the information (Fig. 2).…”

“…The data collection process represented a novel user-oriented effort largely based on the work carried out by the principal end user-the reindeer-herders-similar to the concept of indigenous mapping (Chapin et al 2005, For personal use only. Rambaldi et al 2005, Dove 2006, Green 2008. Such a pGIS combines a range of geo-spatial information management tools and provides the possibility of enhancing dialogue, information exchange, decision-making, conflict resolution and collaborative learning.…”

Narrating Biesje Poort: negotiating absence of storyline, vagueness and multivocality in the representation of Southern Kalahari rock engravings

“…3 'History matters when considering categories' (Tomášková 2013: 197). For a considered understanding of IKS or indigenous knowledge, see Green (2008).…”

Encountering Aboriginal knowledge: Explorer narratives on north-east Queensland, 1770 to 1820

“…14 This is also a very large and growing body of literature. A few examples are Agrawal 1995;Anderson 2002;Brush and Stabinsky 1996;Dei, Hall and Rosenberg 2000;Ellen 2004;Green 2008;Sillitoe 2007;Turnbull 1997;Chambers and Gillespie 2000;Ellen, Parkes and Bicker 2000. 15 There is a very large literature on 'indigenous knowledge' and 'science'.…”