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
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.
