Scientific Approach to Reality

Given the complexity and opacity of procedural processes, as well as the undesirable and harmful side-effects of production processes, it would be the task of the sciences, using their methodological toolbox, to illuminate the interrelationships and the possibilities of realizing the interests of the common good. At present, the sciences are still far from achieving this. The agricultural sciences, in particular, have, to date, played a decisive role in promoting the intensification of production processes. At the same time, the undesired and harmful side effects are given significance at best concerning general issues but not in the context of individual agroecosystems. What has made agricultural science successful in increasing productivity is now becoming a severe obstacle. The self-reinforcing tendencies of specialization have led to the agricultural sciences depriving themselves of their problem-solving competence. Solving problems that arise from the complexity of interrelationships can only be achieved through inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches. However, this is not the way to earn scientific merit. It requires a look behind the scenes to understand how agricultural science has come to be an auxiliary science of rural economics and to become part of the problem. Only when the past role of agricultural science is understood can we reflect on how it can move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution.