In the context of current knowledge situation, when every discipline has something to contribute to interdisciplinarity, it seems quite apposite and opportune that philosophy should reinforce and reassert its traditionally cherished role of integrating human knowledge. The Book at hand is an attempt to that end. It is set to take the readers on an enthralling journey across disciplinary boundaries and inspire them to reach a comprehensive conceptual framework for human knowledge at large. The book delves into the idea and the philosophy of interdisciplinarity, and then unravels the genealogy, dynamics, and myriad configurations of the highly complex phenomenon. It goes on to assess impact, advantages and critical issues involved in interdisciplinarity, while outlining an Indian view of it. The book, thus, explores the conceptual connections, fundamental issues and intrinsic implications of a myriad variety of interdisciplinary study and research, within and beyond academia. The book also attempts to develop necessary theoretical perspectives and a broader conceptual framework in this connection. Ultimately, it seeks to reach, as far as possible, a systematic conceptual account of varied and variegated interdisciplinary studies and researches by integrating them philosophically. The present work is thus, intended for a wider audience, and not only for the practitioners of philosophy as an academic discipline. It is a must read across the intellectual spectrum, regardless of one’s disciplinary affinities and affiliations. It is wide-ranging in its concerns, far-reaching in implications, and highly resourceful and relevant for generalists as well as specialists, scholars and scientists, researchers and curriculum developers, educational administrators and policy-makers. CONTENTS Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Statement of the Problem The Need, Aims and Objectives Method and Approach Hypothesis and Assumptions General Plan of the Work Sources and Materials 2. Idea of Interdisciplinarity What is Interdisciplinarity? Two Conceptions of Interdisciplinarity Interactionist Conception of Interdisciplinarity Integrationist Conception of Interdisciplinarity Interdisciplinarity as Method and as Content Interdisciplinarity as Content Interdisciplinarity as Method Interdisciplinarity and its Common Confusables Multidisciplinarity and Interdisciplinarity Transdisciplinarity and Interdisciplinarity Postdisciplinarity and Interdisciplinarity Disciplinarity, Disciplinary Paradox and Interdisciplinary Pursuits The Idea of Boundary and the Genesis of Discipline Avoiding the Ethnocentrism of Disciplines Conversation or Conversion? Why Interdisciplinarity? Social Factors Cognitive Factors Situational Factors 3. Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity Why Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity? What is the Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity? Meta-interdisciplinarity Characterizing Genuine Interdisciplinarity Cognitive Advancement Quality Aspect Creativity and Critical Thinking Integration and Synthesis Disciplining Interdisciplinarity: The Question of Method Scientific Method and Interdisciplinary Principle Historicity and Genealogical Development Need to avoid Two Extremes: Scientism & Anti-scientism Value Dimension The Realm of Humanities The Way Out Specialization and Generalization Comparative Studies and Interdisciplinary Research Interdisciplinary Relevance of Philosophy Philosophy as a Second-order Activity 4. A Genealogy of Interdisciplinarity Interdisciplinarity: The Classical and the Contemporary A Genealogy of Interdisciplinarity Indeterminacy of the Interdiscipline Deconstructing the Logic of Identity and Difference Idea of Identity and Interdisciplinary Developments The Interdisciplinary is not Adisciplinary An Alternative View of Interdisciplinarity 5. Dynamics of Interdisciplinary Formations Interdisciplinary Dynamism Extra-disciplinary Factors and the Environment Philosophy’s Inter-disciplinary Settings A Glimpse of the Extra-scientific Discovery and Justification Need for the Humanistic Understanding Science as a Social Activity Are Sciences More Hospitable to Interdisciplinarity? The Case of ICT Considered Neo-Disciplinarity 6. Classifying Interdisciplinarity Chief Patterns of Interdisciplinary Formations Area Specific Formations Concept Specific Formations Technology-driven Formations Breakthrough-generated Formations Value-oriented Formations Hybrid Formations Language-game Formations Rhizomatic Formations Limited and Generalized Forms of Interaction Devising the Classificatory Principles Varying criteria of classification General unity of human knowledge Classification of Interdisciplinarity by Degree and Forms of Integration Classification based on the “degree” criterion Transdisciplinarity Interdisciplinarity Cross-disciplinarity Pluri-disciplinarity Multidisciplinarity Classification based on the “manner” of integration Interdisciplinarity of Neighbouring Disciplines Interdisciplinarity of Problems Interdisciplinarity of Methods Interdisciplinarity of Concepts The System-Theoretic Classification of Interdisciplinarity Ontological Forms of Interdisciplinarity Regional Concrete-Science Interdisciplinarity Borderland Interdisciplinarity System-Transborder Interdisciplinarity System-Complex Interdisciplinarity Epistemological Forms of Interdisciplinarity Socio-organizational Forms of Interdisciplinarity Some Other Ways of Classifying Interdisciplinarity A Critical Note 7. Impact and Advantages of Interdisciplinarity Avoiding the Specialist Fallacy The Need for a New Philosophy of Expertise Interdisciplinary Litigation and Border Warfare Impact of Interdisciplinarity on Philosophy Contracting and Retreating Effect Expanding and Regaining Effect Intensifying and Deepening Effect Feminism and Interdisciplinarity Advantages of Interdisciplinarity Interdisciplinarity widens our intellectual horizon Interdisciplinarity is conducive to the growth of critical outlook Interdisciplinarity is particularly helpful in solving complex problems Interdisciplinarity often gives rise to novel forms of knowledge and newer understanding Interdisciplinarity is more natural to our cognitive experience and lived texture Interdisciplinarity involves integration of our diverse intellectual pursuits and promotes holistic thinking Interdisciplinarity promotes the culture of collaboration and teamwork Interdisciplinarity helps us avoid the ill-effects of compartmentalization and over-specialization Interdisciplinarity helps improve the applied edge of our various specialized pursuits Interdisciplinarity has a remarkable democratic character Interdisciplinarity enhances the problematics of an inquiry quantitatively as well as qualitatively Interdisciplinary Democracy Interdisciplinarity Creates Something New 8. Critical Issues Involved in Interdisciplinarity Missing the Disciplinary Rigour Care, cultivation and habit Field, method, subject matter Departmentality An Unnatural and Uneasy Alliance The Case of Cognitive Science Cognitively not Well-founded Ignoring Basic Research and Theoretical Issues Market-friendliness Interdisciplinary Democracy Criticized Abnormalities and Deformities in Knowledge Production Sociobiology: An illustrative Case in the Point Pitfalls of Achieving Independent Status Need to be Disciplinary First 9. An Indian View of Interdisciplinarity India: An Ideal Setting for Interdisciplinarity The Dominant Interdisciplinary Format Linkage between Knowledge and Power Transformation Required, Not Just Information Parā-vidyā and Aparā-vidyā: The Distinction and Its Interdisciplinary Implications The Issue of Hierarchy Irreducible to the Division between Philosophy and Science Intention and Rationale behind the Distinction Going beyond Narrow and Immediate Concerns The Vānaprastha Perspective and Its Interdisciplinary Relevance 10. Concluding Thoughts Summing up Discussions and Findings Main Trends in Interdisciplinarity Interdisciplinarity as an autonomous field of inquiry Interdisciplinarity as an exercise in ever renewed integration Nature of Interdisciplinary Thinking Relational and synthetic thinking Contextual thinking Situated and social epistemology Becoming, rather than Being Complexity and contingency Fluid and flexible expertise Democratic character Transformational Interdisciplinarity: One or Many? Issues in Knowledge Integration Idealistic integration Limited integration Pragmatic integration Interactional integration Integrating Interdisciplinarity through Philosophy Interdisciplinary Communication Habermas–Klein Model Kuhn–MacIntyre Model Bataille–Lyotard Model Philosophical Synthesis Weltanschauung Heuristic Effect Value-orientation Bibliography Name and Title Index Subject Index