In the opening of (1982), Edgar Morin argues that science lacks the very "conscience" (reflexivity and ethics) it needs to manage its own power. He describes a fundamental gap where human sciences ignore physical realities, while natural sciences ignore their own socio-cultural roots.
: Morin points out that we lack a "science of things of the mind" (noology) that could examine how ideas organize and defend themselves within systems. Page 1 EDGAR MORIN Science e aVCC COIlSC16211Ce...
The core message of his opening argument is that (paraphrasing Rabelais), or specifically, that science without reflection is "mutilated and mutilating". Key Themes on Page 1 and the Introduction In the opening of (1982), Edgar Morin argues
: He highlights that modern science is often blind to its own role in society. A science deprived of reflection and a philosophy that is purely speculative are both insufficient to handle the complexity of reality. The Vision of "Complex Thought" The core message of his opening argument is
: He calls for the development of a "meta-science" or a "science of science"—an effort that requires scientists to interrogate their own ideological structures and socio-cultural roots.
Morin introduces the idea that we must move toward , which refuses to reduce reality to simple parts or polarities (like "nature vs. culture"). Instead, it seeks to reconnect dispersed knowledge and integrate the humanistic and scientific cultures.
: Scientists produce immense power—such as genetic engineering or nuclear energy—yet they often have no power over how that knowledge is used by economic or political entities.