It would be inspiring
to imagine a choir of disciplines gathered together on such a challenging
occasion. How would they divide into sections -- and on the basis of what common qualities?
How would their multi-part song take form as a self- organizing whole? With what insights
would the functions of a Kapelmeister be performed -- if such a role was necessary?
Would transdisciplinarity
emerge as the musical form to which all perspectives collectively
contributed -- each according to some appropriate timing, each from an appropriate register?
Superposition of
understandings
Transdisciplinarity
might be thought of as a challenge to space- binding and time-binding
learning. A congress would therefore tend to show evidence of superposition of layers of insight
and understanding which in other circumstances might be separated over time and space.
This could be seen
in the emphasis, from one perspective, on the conventional linear
organization of the event. There were many solo presentations in sequence throughout each
packed day. But, to the surprise of many, a significant number of these mirrored common
themes that transcended conventional logics. The transcendence of duality was evoked in many
ways.
But in a context
where it was to be expected that every participant's understanding was
necessarily challenged and stretched by unfamiliar insights, distinguishing fruitful insight from
unhelpful distractions was no easy task. The event could thus be read and heard in a variety of
ways through superimposed layers of meaning and noise. Participants were free to project
significance into the dynamics or to strip them of meaning altogether.
In an event of
this nature, requiring a configuration of complementary insights, must significance
for one necessarily be meaningless to another for the congress to function effectively? Can such
an event transcend its own limitations without the apparent presence of such conceptual hubris?
How is the experience of hubris to be balanced against that of powerful harmonies?
1. Frames that Work?
