Complexity, 'practical rationality' and evidence-based policy making
Complexity, 'practical rationality' and evidence-based policy making
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DOI：
10.1332/030557306775212188
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发表时间：
2006-01-01
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Sanderson, I
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Sanderson, I
最近关于复杂性理论的研究对我们关于社会系统本质的概念以及我们如何理解这些系统并实现有益变化的想法有着重要的影响。这篇文章试图找出一些关键的含义，为我们思考证据在复杂的，动态的社会系统的政策制定中的作用。有人认为，最近关于复杂性的工作对方法具有重要意义。了解社会系统是如何运作的，以及这些系统的变化过程如何受到政策行动的影响。“反身性社会学习”过程成为实现对社会变革的理性指导的核心，但当代关于基于证据的政策制定的思考是由一种“工具理性”支撑的，这种理性将伦理和道德问题排除在理性考虑之外。然而，增加社会复杂性的一个重要方面涉及道德模糊性，有人认为，规范性问题必须包含在“实践理性”中，以便为社会改善的努力取得坚实的基础。
Recent work on complexity theory has significant implications for our conceptions of the nature of social systems and for ideas about how we can gain an understanding of such systems and achieve beneficial change. This article seeks to identify some of the key implications for our thinking about the role of evidence in policy making in complex, dynamic social systems. It is argued that recent work on complexity has important implications for approaches. to understanding how social systems work and for ideas about how the course of change in such systems can be influenced by policy action. Processes of 'reflexive social learning' become central to achieving rational guidance of social change but contemporary thinking about evidence-based policy making is underpinned by an 'instrumental rationality' that excludes ethical and moral concerns from rational consideration. However, an important dimension of increasing social complexity involves moral ambiguity and it is argued that normative concerns must be embraced within 'practical rationality' in order to achieve a sound basis for efforts at social improvement.