Philosophical inquiry into social informatics - Methods and uses of language

Abstract

This paper inquires into the possibility of the development of ICT at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Its focus is on philosophically founded methods and languages applicable on a universal and exemplary basis. The methods are taken to be based on abduction and sweeping-in-processes and the languages are taken to be based on categorical imperatives of Kant and the discourse ethics of Habermas/Apel. These 'taken to be's' are contrasted with Jacques Derrida's 'Deconstruction'. Paul Feyerabend' 'Against Method' as well as complexity theory. The explicated monological/dialogical and formal/procedural methods and languages together with its counterparts are used to start a sweeping-in-process on 'Social Informatics'. © 2006 International Federation for Information Processing.