Micro/Macro and Soft/Hard: Diverging and Converging Issues in the Physical and Social Sciences

Abstract

The concept of scales is widely used in social, ecological and physical sciences, and is embedded in various ongoing philosophical debates about the nature of nature and the nature of society. The question is whether the difference between scales makes a difference and if so what difference. Multilevel approaches compete with reductionist approaches.We are tracing the highlights of the disputes as well as some of the resolutions that have been offered. Most importantly, debates about differences in scale are enmeshed in what should be distinguished, namely analytical knowledge-guiding interests and those that might be called practical knowledge-guiding interests. It is unlikely that purely analytical debates can be resolved. However, progress about the impact and relevance of scale can be achieved with respect to the practical-political discursive level of knowledge claims. More specifically, scales are a crucial concept in determining the capacity for action from knowledge about the dynamics and structures of processes. For instance, in the context of climate change, knowledge claims about global and continental processes are relevant for the international political process aimed at abatement measures, whereas knowledge about regional and local effects controls decisions concerning adaptation measures.