Bionik und Interdisziplinarität

Abstract

Research programs such as "Bionics" are IahelIed "imerdiseiplinary" in their core methodology. But what do these terms stand for? Hitherto, the umbrella term "Bi­ onics" as weil as the catch word "interdisciplinarity" have not been semantieally specified. This challenges the philosophy of seience to c1arify the various hetero­ geneous meanings of these terms. The following case study of "Bionics" may serve as a first blueprint of "interdisciplinarity". Further more, it may aiso contrib­ ute to gaining an insight into the paradigm shift in our seience system from "disci­ plinarity" (mode-I-science) towards "interdiseiplinarity" (mode-II-science). Tbe research program of "Bionics" provides an excellent example of "imerdisciplinar­ ity", [orging connections hetween various natural and engineering sciences. "Bi­ onics" thus presents a framework for an elaborate understanding of "interdiscipli­ narity": a circulation theory of interdisciplinarity. This theory secms to be deeply rooted in our cu!tural history. Today it comes to practise what is weil known by Dur ancestors: the technologieal mimicry of nature. In this paper these implicit as­ sumptions will he discussed critically.