An existential phenomenology for ethical systems inquiry: Churchman’s heroic mood

Abstract

Background: Churchman’s pragmatic epistemological systems philosophy has influenced the praxis of perspective-taking methods to deal with a class of problems known as wicked problems. Churchman’s philosophy has not yet been interpreted as an existential phenomenology that deals with the inquirer’s experience with and attitude towards perspective-taking collaborative approaches.
Objectives: This study aims to build an argument for the repositioning of Churchman as an existential phenomenologist based on his treatment of his heroic mood. This repositioning may serve to balance epistemological pragmatism with existential phenomenological atonement to the problem situation.
Method: An argument is built based on an in-depth literature study of Churchman’s writing and comparisons drawn to existential phenomenological literature. This literature study is used to uncover and interpret the structure of Churchman’s heroic mood and systems journey and the role of the heroic mood within it as it links to existential phenomenological themes.
Results: Churchman’s heroic mood emerges as the root of his ethical approach to systems inquiry in the context of wicked problems. This shows that Churchman’s philosophy can do more to help inquirers deal with perspective-taking collaborative approaches.
Conclusion: Churchman’s overt epistemological pragmatism is complimented functionally in an important way by his latent existential phenomenology. This needs to be made more overt to complement the important ongoing epistemological work aiming to take the systems approach further.
Contribution: This study helps to further unpack the ethics of the systems approach to wicked problems, strengthening the foundation on which we can build in terms of what it means to be an ethical guide and leader in perspective-taking collaborative spaces.