Deconstructing the future - Kintsugi's metaphorical strength in Futures Thinking for Sustainability
(2021) HEKM51 20211Human Ecology
- Abstract
- The main challenge to future scenario construction is to help people see themselves as part
of a larger system in a way that empowers them rather than reinforces the belief they are
helpless. This thesis aims to overcome this challenge by investigating what can be learned
from the Japanese tradition of repair called Kintsugi and the underlying Wabi-Sabi
philosophy. Subsequently, the research explores how the lessons learned can strengthen
sustainability education. Future scenario construction is approached from a critical realist
perspective, which poses that the future is real but not yet determined and consists of a
multiplicity of possibilities. For the research, six in-depth interviews with kintsugi artists and
sustainability... (More) - The main challenge to future scenario construction is to help people see themselves as part
of a larger system in a way that empowers them rather than reinforces the belief they are
helpless. This thesis aims to overcome this challenge by investigating what can be learned
from the Japanese tradition of repair called Kintsugi and the underlying Wabi-Sabi
philosophy. Subsequently, the research explores how the lessons learned can strengthen
sustainability education. Future scenario construction is approached from a critical realist
perspective, which poses that the future is real but not yet determined and consists of a
multiplicity of possibilities. For the research, six in-depth interviews with kintsugi artists and
sustainability experts were performed. Theory and findings have been integrated with an
iterative process of grounded theory analysis. The main results include that futures thinking
should be a self-reflective exercise in which there is space for grief about the current
condition of our lives and the world. For resilient futures thinking, the historical value of
mistakes has to be recognized, and the option of self-delusion must be kindly dismissed.
The conclusion is that if we want to solve our issues, we need to deconstruct them, put them
back together, enjoy the process, and never forget it. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9044229
- author
- Smeenk, Tara LU
- supervisor
-
- Thomas Malm LU
- organization
- course
- HEKM51 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Human Ecology, Critical Realism, Wabi-Sabi, Kintsugi, Futures Thinking, Resilience, Sustainability education
- language
- English
- id
- 9044229
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-28 12:29:11
- date last changed
- 2021-06-28 12:29:11
@misc{9044229, abstract = {{The main challenge to future scenario construction is to help people see themselves as part of a larger system in a way that empowers them rather than reinforces the belief they are helpless. This thesis aims to overcome this challenge by investigating what can be learned from the Japanese tradition of repair called Kintsugi and the underlying Wabi-Sabi philosophy. Subsequently, the research explores how the lessons learned can strengthen sustainability education. Future scenario construction is approached from a critical realist perspective, which poses that the future is real but not yet determined and consists of a multiplicity of possibilities. For the research, six in-depth interviews with kintsugi artists and sustainability experts were performed. Theory and findings have been integrated with an iterative process of grounded theory analysis. The main results include that futures thinking should be a self-reflective exercise in which there is space for grief about the current condition of our lives and the world. For resilient futures thinking, the historical value of mistakes has to be recognized, and the option of self-delusion must be kindly dismissed. The conclusion is that if we want to solve our issues, we need to deconstruct them, put them back together, enjoy the process, and never forget it.}}, author = {{Smeenk, Tara}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Deconstructing the future - Kintsugi's metaphorical strength in Futures Thinking for Sustainability}}, year = {{2021}}, }