[AISWorld] Invitation to SIGPhilosophy (Special Interest Group on Philosophy and Epistemology of Information Systems)

[Nik R. Hassan]

*Invitation to SIGPhilosophy (Special Interest Group on Philosophy and 
Epistemology of Information Systems)*

There is a need for a focal point for the debate on philosophical issues 
in IS research.  So far, this work was dispersed over various 
conferences and journals, efforts by IFIP 8.1, 8.2 and AISWorld webpages 
on research. Although the SIGPhilosophy was established in 2002 during 
ICIS at Barcelona to provide this focal point, it has a long way to go 
in gathering the brightest minds in IS towards accomplishing its 
original mission of improving IS research by drawing on philosophical 
literature, what more the ambitious goal of strengthening the IS field's 
ties with other disciplines.

As Dilthey reminds us, the ancient Greeks had once remarked that 
philosophy is not wisdom, it's the love of wisdom.  This quest of truth 
for its own sake is possible only when one travels outside one's area of 
expertise, to see the world (/theo-rie-s heineken/) from a certain 
distance in order to gain that universal wisdom or theoretical knowledge 
(/Herodotus/).  The anthropologist James Clifford once wrote: "Theory is 
a product of displacement, comparison, a certain distance.  To theorize, 
one leaves home." The SIGPhilosophy provides for such a space, and seeks 
to develop the community of kindred spirits who share their insights in 
reviving the critical consciousness that never accepts anything as 
given, who wish to join the endeavor towards valid knowledge and embrace 
infinite possibilities.

I'd like to invite every AIS member to join and contribute to the 
SIGPhilosophy 
(https://m360.aisnet.org/frontend/forms/ViewForm.aspx?id=12423), to 
subscribe to the SIGPhilosophy Listserve 
(http://www.aisnet.org/ais_lists/memberslists.aspx) and be part of the 
future of the IS field.

The SIGPhilosophy is working on:
1.    Starting a discussion on the SIGPhilosophy listserve on the 
organization and running of the SIG
2.    Migrating its website to a wiki site that every member can 
contribute to
3.    Plan for a first meeting at both AMCIS 2010 and ICIS 2010 to 
discuss future plans

Nik R. Hassan
nhassan at d.umn.edu
Moderator, SIGPhilosophy Listserve

-- 
Nik R. Hassan
Dir. LSBE Tech Program, Assoc. Professor, Finance & MIS Dept.
Labovitz School of Business and Economics
LSBE 111Q, University of Minnesota Duluth
1318 Kirby Drive
Duluth MN 55812
Office Phone: (218) 726-7453, 726-6705
Fax: (218) 726-7516
Home Page: www.d.umn.edu/~nhassan
Email: nhassan at d.umn.edu

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