Ontological Instability and Fluctuational Epistemology: A Beginner's Introduction
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This presentation introduces the foundational principles of Fluctuational Epistemology, a novel epistemological framework developed in response to the crisis of traditional Western epistemology. Traditional approaches, from Foundationalism to Skepticism, are shown to rely on a "Stability Postulate"—the assumption that genuine knowledge requires a stable foundation. This postulate is revealed as logically incoherent in light of the principle of Ontological Instability, which posits that reality itself is not static but a dynamic process of creative becoming. Fluctuational Epistemology embraces this instability, reconceptualizing knowledge not as a stable possession but as a dynamic, creative, and relational process. Key concepts such as Knowledge Flows, Epistemic Assemblages, Epistemic Uncertainty Relations, and Fluctuational Truth are explored to illustrate how uncertainty and temporality become creative resources for knowing. The presentation concludes by outlining the practical implications of this paradigm shift for education, research, and decision-making, and highlights recent research developments, positioning Fluctuational Epistemology as an essential approach for navigating an emergent and interconnected world.
Author: Tan, Kwan Hong
Institution: Singapore University of Social Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7105659416
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