METAPHOR, RECURSIVE SYSTEMS, AND PARADOX IN SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY

The contradictions found at any level of abstraction among concepts, such as subject-object, whole-part, synthesis-analysis, metaphor-observation, organicism-mechanism, and interpretationism-realism cannot be eliminated or resolved at that level. They can, however, be reconciled into productive paradoxes by recognizing them as components of recursive systems. The resolution of the paradox occurs only at the next higher level of abstraction where a synthesis can be established. However, this synthesis at the next higher level entails its own contradictions. These can again be reconciled into productive paradoxes through the recognition of broader recursive systems. This progressive solution continues at each iteration, or level or recursion. © 1991, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.