Ergonomics and sustainability: towards an embrace of complexity and emergence
Abbreviated Journal Title
Ergonomics
Keywords
sustainability; ergonomics; epistemology; ethics; complexity; emergence; SITUATION AWARENESS; PATIENT SAFETY; SYSTEMS; CULTURE; Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, Applied; Psychology
Abstract
Technology offers a promising route to a sustainable future, and ergonomics can serve a vital role. The argument of this article is that the lasting success of sustainability initiatives in ergonomics hinges on an examination of ergonomics' own epistemology and ethics. The epistemology of ergonomics is fundamentally empiricist and positivist. This places practical constraints on its ability to address important issues such as sustainability, emergence and complexity. The implicit ethical position of ergonomics is one of neutrality, and its positivist epistemology generally puts value-laden questions outside the parameters of what it sees as scientific practice. We argue, by contrast, that a discipline that deals with both technology and human beings cannot avoid engaging with questions of complexity and emergence and seeking innovative ways of addressing these issues. Practitioner Summary: Ergonomics has largely modelled its research on a reductive science, studying parts and problems to fix. In sustainability efforts, this can lead to mere local adaptations with a negative effect on global sustainability. Ergonomics must consider quality of life globally, appreciating complexity and emergent effects of local relationships.
Journal Title
Ergonomics
Volume
56
Issue/Number
3
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
357
Last Page
364
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0014-0139
Recommended Citation
"Ergonomics and sustainability: towards an embrace of complexity and emergence" (2013). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 3881.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/3881
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