INTRODUCTION
A prominent historical example of expressed philosophical propositions is Euclid’s Elements, a mathematical treatise with definitions, axioms, and postulates. In contrast to Euclid’s axiomatic approach, transactionalism’s propositions are invitational “lures for feeling,” to use A. N. Whitehead’s phrase. These propositions are not intended as self-evident assertions of final truth but are offered as fallible hypotheses to be continually revised in light of new experience. We expect this work to begin very simply and to expand as the application of each proposition to varying circumstances elicits refining adjustments.
The development of discretely articulated philosophical propositions is the basis on which we will identify Interlinked Ecologies, express what transactionalism is, and begin to know how transactional approaches show up in other ecologies.
The Institute of Transactional Philosophy aims in part to introduce a comprehensive framework for understanding knowledge and inquiry that diverges significantly from fixed dualisms, such as subject/object or mind/body splitting, which have historically dominated philosophical discourse. This transactional approach represents an ontological and epistemological paradigm shift that emphasizes the interrelatedness and inseparability of the knower and the known. Here, we will outline the core tenets of this "transactional philosophy”.
THE PROPOSITIONS
1. Reframing Dualisms as Creative Contrasts
Transactionalism takes a critical view of the traditional dualisms that separate the mind and the world, the observer and the observed. However, we also acknowledge the importance of holding the tension of opposites. We argue that strict separations create artificial barriers to understanding, proposing instead a transactional approach where entities are understood in terms of their relationships and reciprocal transformations of one another. This perspective does not merely blur the boundaries between subject and object but entirely reconceives them as phases in an integrating, dynamic process. Instead of viewing opposites as set in irrevocable conflict, we seek to transform them into creative contrasts.
2. Affirming Continuity and Emergence
Transactionalism views reality as an unbroken, ongoing process, rather than a collection of disconnected static entities. Out of this continuum, novel decision-points emerge that create the illusion of fixed entities. This interplay of continuity and emergence thus presents a prime example of the shift from dualistic splitting to inhabiting the tension between creative contrasts. This view is compatible with evolutionary theory and the notion that new entities and qualities emerge from complex coupling over time. The transactional approach thus emphasizes the importance of considering the continuously evolving, creatively emergent, and contextual aspects of experience.
3. Pursuing Transactional Inquiry
Transactionalism proposes that our investigations should not start with pre-existing, sharply bounded entities. Rather, what there is to be known should emerge from the investigative process itself. Inquiry is thus seen as an intra-relational process arising in the tension between the inquirer and the subject matter, where both are transformed by the engagement. This approach is particularly relevant to the sciences, where we see the experimental method as a form of transactional inquiry rather than as an outside observer studying separate objects without either the observer or the objects being changed in the course of the encounter.
4. Seeking Holistic and Contextual Understanding
The transactional perspective advocates for a holistic approach to understanding phenomena. It suggests that entities cannot be fully understood in isolation but must be seen in the context of their mutual relations within larger systems. This tenet challenges reductionist approaches by emphasizing the importance of context and the way the “parts” of any whole continually produce one another for the sake of that whole.
5. Adopting a Pluralist and Pragmatic Methodology
Pluralism, as a philosophical concept, expands the scope of inquiry by embracing multiple perspectives, values, and disciplines, enhancing the transactional approach central to Dewey and Bentley’s Knowing and the Known. By integrating pluralism into pragmatism, this approach enriches inquiry beyond evaluating ideas solely on instrumental outcomes, inviting diverse experiences and worldviews to shape the process. This broadens the notion of "usefulness," recognizing that utility must be understood within a pluralistic context of interacting worldviews and dynamic ontologies, where knowledge itself is seen as a relational and evolving process of learning. Transactionalism, therefore, becomes a confluence of diverse philosophies, softening traditional pragmatic boundaries to foster an inclusive and fluid interpretation of knowledge, where ideas interact, challenge, and ultimately enrich our collective understanding of reality.
6. Transacting is Communicative Social Inquiry
Finally, our work places a strong emphasis on the role of communication (and language specifically) in the transactional process. We view language, symbols, and signs more generally as integral to the transactions existing with/through individuals and their environments, shaping and being shaped by social interactions, without rejection of the natural environment in the process (which is itself full of creatures engaged in sign-interpretation even when no humans are involved). This perspective highlights the importance of understanding language, symbols, and communication in the construction of knowledge.
CONCLUSION
With these propositions in mind, The Institute of Transactional Philosophy seeks to offer a radical rethinking of the nature of knowledge, inquiry, and reality itself. By focusing on the interactive, emergent, and contextual aspects of phenomena, these propositions provide a framework that is both comprehensive and adaptable, capable of addressing the complexities of our rapidly changing world. Our work aims to instigate a methodological revolution in philosophy and the social sciences that we hope expands beyond academia to influence contemporary society more broadly.
