During the fourth training on Sint Eustatius in April, that again was very successful, I got an insight that is worthwhile mentioning. It relates to the quality paradigms that I illustrated in blog # 5 (using Donald Trump as an example).
In the course I explained the four paradigms with the following four characteristics: the empirical paradigm is the one of RULES. (A guy like Trump does not take objective scientific measurement seriously e.g regarding global warming. He is not into the empirical paradigm, does not follow rules). The reflective paradigm is the one of PRINCIPLES. (Trump is not into the reflective paradigm. He does little reflection, but acts -sometimes impulsively). The emergence paradigm is the one of VIRTUES. (Trump is not into the emergency paradigm either in which you hold a serious dialogue with all stakeholders). The reference paradigm is the one of MODELS. (At his best Trump follows the reference paradigm. He believes in a model, not in democratic nor republican models, but his own). The distinction between Rules, Models, Principles and Virtues appeared to help participants to understand the difference between the paradigms!
Recently Huub Vinkenburg asked Hardjono and me, if we could describe an egg from each of the four paradigms. Well the egg as an object does not change when you look at it from different paradigms. What changes is the way we judge its quality.
From the empirical paradigm we would measure how big the egg is, weigh it according to the rules and we would measure the carbs, fat and protein or even the amount of fipronil in it.
From the reference paradigm we would compare the egg to an ideal image, a model of an egg and judge how far away this one is from the ideal.
From the reflective paradigm experts would discuss and compare the qualities of the egg at this moment and then state to what extent this egg complies to the subjective ideas and principles the group members have about a good egg. That quality is then determined.
From the emergence paradigm all stakeholders will be involved in a virtuous dialogue on the egg and provisionally determine its quality, that is regularly being questioned again.
