Paradigm, incommensurability and interdisciplinarity: the case of sustainability science

In the last decades, the concept of interdisciplinarity has become increasingly visible in mainstream scientific discourse. However, interdisciplinary requirements have not truly permeated the traditional structures of science, largely based on mono-disciplinary expertise and peer-review. In this paper, we focus on one key reason for this: the lack of a sound epistemological grounding for interdisciplinarity. Building on the post-positivistic debates on paradigm-based science and paradigm incommensurability, we argue for developing a broader understanding of why, how and where is interdisciplinarity needed, one that better connects the current conceptualizations of interdisciplinarity with the ongoing debates in the epistemology of science. We also contend that the program of epistemological reframing of interdisciplinary research should be based on a reflexive approach integrating two main components. First it argues for an explicitation of the types and levels of incommensurability (introduced by elements such as particular taxonomies involved in structuring the scientific discourse, epistemic values and other normative commitments guiding research or institutional and policy constraints), conducted by researchers within distinct disciplines. Then, it proposes to assess the legitimacy and relevance of using multi-method approaches to address the identified epistemological shortcomings of their mono-disciplinary models. Instead of being driven by axiomatic formalism, interdisciplinary choices would then be guided by the deliberative dynamics of the extended peer community in addressing a common, trans-boundary research problem.