The Trap of Uncontrolled Equivocation
Two new science articles have been posted at W.I.S.E. which you might enjoy and learn from.
The first is Re-Inventing the United States Forest Service: Evolution from Custodial Management, to Production Forestry, to Ecosystem Management by Doug MacCleery, found in the W.I.S.E. Colloquium: Forest and Fire Sciences [here].
The second is The Threat of the Yrmo: The Political Ontology of a Sustainable Hunting Program by Mario Blaser posted in the W.I.S.E. Colloquium: Wildlife Sciences [here].
Both deal (in part) with the clash of ontologies: colliding world views. When worlds collide it often results in equivocation — doing nothing while speaking in vague falsehoods — a phenomenon Mario Blaser calls “the trap of uncontrolled equivocation”.
The trap of uncontrolled equivocation can lead to megafires and forest destruction (see the first article) and/or oppression and starvation of native indigenous peoples (see the second article).
Instead of dealing with problems in a direct manner, the bureaucratic style (worldwide) often is to yammer endlessly in strange tongues. Sometimes that works; the problems go away on their own. But sometimes it doesn’t and the problems intensify.
Both articles are excellent and worth your study. Please enjoy them, too.
