Abstract
Scholz’ paper proposes considering Brunswik’s principles as “ontological,” also with regard to managing complexity in sustainable transition management. I review this proposal with reference to planning for sustainable urban development. My conclusion is: The FSA-Brunswik model cannot be considered a model for successful sustainability planning, neither in general nor for (transdisciplinary) planning groups; rather, it is a metaphor or reminder that, even if we know (urban) planning in general, we will not progress towards sustainability without considering the coupledness of human–environmental systems.
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In Sect. 4.2.4 Scholz introduces the distinction between a descriptive, prescriptive, and normative perspective. I introduced representations, models, and metaphors as epistemological means, therefore all three can serve a descriptive perspective. In addition, models may serve prescriptive purposes (presenting best practice in a condensed form), or even in a normative manner (deriving how we should proceed).
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This Perspectives paper is a comment on Scholz’s “Managing complexity: from visual perception to sustainable transitions—contributions of Brunswik’s Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism”, Environ Syst Decis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-017-9655-4.
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Mieg, H.A. A metaphor for taking into account coupled human–environmental systems. Environ Syst Decis 38, 84–87 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-017-9664-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-017-9664-3