Trans-disciplinary Science of Society
In September 2014 MSS collaborated with WAAS and WUC to conduct a post-graduate certificate course at Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik exploring the prospects for development of a comprehensive trans-disciplinary science of society. The course involved nine faculty from MSS, WAAS and Club of Rome and was broadcast live on the web for international viewing. This course is intended as a creative endeavor to look beyond the boundaries fixed by present concepts, theories and disciplines in an effort to make more explicit the linkages and interdependencies between different fields of social activity, to develop common terminology, to identify common underlying social processes applicable to all fields and levels of society, and to examine the prospects and requirements for evolving a trans-disciplinary science of society. The course examines the common principles applicable to an integrated science of society; similarities and differences between the natural and social sciences; including the character of scientific laws, the place of consciousness and choice; the role of the individual human being as creator, catalyst and pioneer of social change; the need for an expanded concept of causality that takes into account the role of future anticipation as an attractor; and the applicability and limitations of systems, networks and complexity theory when applied to human beings. MSS co-authored an article presenting insights from the course in “Unification in Social Sciences: Search for a Science of Society” (Cadmus, Oct 2014).
The New Paradigm
MSS continued its collaboration with the World Academy of Art & Science (WAAS) and the World University Consortium (WUC) on a project to examine the root causes of the multiple challenges facing humanity today in order to formulate an integrated perspective, a comprehensive strategy and detailed policy framework attuned to the realities, needs and emerging opportunities of the 21st century. The project seeks to explore the linkages and interdependencies between issues related to economy, employment, ecology, education, global governance, rule of law, international security, social stability and human welfare. An international conference was organized in collaboration with WAAS and the NizamiGanjavi International Center in Azerbaijan at Baku on April 30, 2014 entitled “New Paradigm for Human Development”. Participants included 30 leaders from 10 international organizations. Another international conference was conducted at Almaty, Kazakhstan on November 5-7, 2014 in collaboration with WAAS, WUC and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University on New paradigm of Sustainable Human Development with more than 350 participants. The keynote address was delivered by K. J. Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan and former Director General of the UN in Geneva. MSS staff conducted research and made presentations in all these conferences. The society’s work during the year included preparation of a 150 page draft report integrating different aspects of the new paradigm research which was presented and discussed at a working group meeting in Podgorica, Montenegro on March 27-28, 2015. Article by MSS staff was published in Cadmus Journal entitled “New Paradigm: The Necessity and the Opportunity” (in May 2014). Two more articles were published in the May 2015 issue of the journal titled “Is the World Floundering or Has She a Vision?” and “Uncorking the Future: Transitions to a New Paradigm”.The XII International Colloquium took place in Gainesville, Florida, USA at the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida, from May 20-22, 2015.On November 10, 2015 WAAS and WUC convened a meeting in CERN, Geneva focusing on paradigm shifts.
The XIII International Colloquium held in Lisbon on May 11-13, 2016, explored the eco-social and political transitions and their consequences. The conference called for a new paradigm in eco-social, political transitions. MSS participated in an international conference organized by WAAS and Kyung Hee University, Seoul, titled “New Paradigm and Planetary Engagement” in September 2016. MSS also conducted research and participated in the conference on the impact of technological advances on employment conducted at Podgorica, Montenegro in May 2016. MSS staff participated and presented at a 3 day PG level course on Social Power in from October 31-November 2, 2016 at IUC Dubrovnik. Garry Jacobs co-chaired a session on the need for human-centered economic theory and also presented at the conference. WAAS and WUC convened a gathering of the New Economic Theory Working Group of which MSS is a member for a lecture series on new perspectives in Economics to call for a new paradigm in economics held at IUC Dubrovnik, Croatia, from January 31-February 3, 2017.
MSS continued its research on the root causes of the multiple challenges facing humanity today in order to formulate an integrated perspective, a comprehensive strategy and detailed policy framework attuned to the realities, needs and emerging opportunities of the 21st century.
Conference on Globalism and Nationalism: MSS participated in an international conference on Globalism and Nationalism organized by the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts and the World Academy of Art and Science in Podgorica on November 2-3, 2017.
Conference on Anticipation: MSS staff prepared and presented a research paper at the International Conference on Anticipation, Agency and Complexity organized by the University of Trento in Trento, Italy from 6 to 8 April 2017. Among the fifty participants were various prominent personalities of academia, business sector and international institutions. MSS presented a paper on “Anticipation, Transdisciplinary Social Theory and Integrated Thinking”.
Conference on New Paradigm in Politics and Economics: MSS delivered an address on New Paradigm in Politics and Economics at a conference organized by the Laszlo Institute for New Paradigm Research in Italy in May 2017.
Publications: After the conference the Society was invited to contribute a chapter to a book presenting the major findings of the conference. The Handbook of New Paradigm Research was published in Europe in August 2017 incorporating our research paper on the science of life.
Theory of The Firm
MSS Staff contributed a chapter titled “Transdisciplinary social theory of the firm” for a book on the Theory of the firm in January 2020. It examines the theory of the firm from the perspective of society and looks for a theory that is consistent with the fundamental principles of social reality. It views the firm from the perspective of an integrated transdisciplinary science of society. It examines the relationship between the individual firm, business community and the wider society, and considers the concept of value from the perspective of its social impact and overall benefit to human wellbeing. The book is yet to be published.