Minding the Gap: Complexity Science and Empirical Critical Race Theory
Kevin P. Lee
Social Equity and Racial Justice Professor of Law | Social and Political Ethics
In my latest essay, "Minding the Gap: An Introduction to Empirical Critical Race Scholarship and Complexity Science," I explore the potential for complexity science to bridge the epistemic divide between critical race theory (CRT) and empiricism. This groundbreaking work delves into the conflicting epistemologies of CRT, which values subjective knowledge rooted in lived experiences, and empiricism, which prioritizes objective analysis.
The essay introduces complexity science as a powerful framework for understanding emergent phenomena in complex adaptive systems. By applying concepts like nonlinear scaling, assemblages, and agent-based modeling, I demonstrate how complexity science can illuminate the multifaceted, nonlinear nature of race and provide valuable insights for empirical critical race theory (eCRT).
Key takeaways from the essay include:
1. Complexity science offers a nuanced social theory attentive to the contextual factors revealed by complex systems theory, enriching CRT's methodological toolkit.
2. Examples like Schelling's segregation model, agent-based modeling of health inequities, and modeling incarceration as an infectious disease showcase the potential of complexity science in elucidating structural racism.
3. The philosophy of information and Bayesian epistemology provide additional resources for bridging the epistemic gap between CRT and empiricism.
4. Implications for eCRT include embracing assemblage frameworks, nonlinear causality, and structural realism while supplementing quantitative analysis with human narratives.
This essay is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of critical race theory, empirical methods, and complexity science. It paves the way for a transformative synthesis that holds the promise of unmasking and dismantling the covert patterns of systemic racism.
To read the full essay and explore the cutting-edge applications of complexity science in eCRT, follow this link. I welcome your thoughts, feedback, and engagement as we collectively strive to advance the frontiers of critical race scholarship.
#ComplexityScience #CriticalRaceTheory #EmpiricalMethods #SystemicRacism #SocialJustice
Director of Data Science at RevolutionParts
7 个月Added to my to-read list. How are you doing in South Carolina? We surely miss here in the northern one!
Added to my reading list, this has potential to be very important work. Complexity Science, which can be very non-intuitive, has potential to bridge many gaps in our thinking and beliefs. Thanks for sharing!