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ISSN 1751-8229Volume Six, Number One

On the Road to Nowhere?Some thoughts on the ideas of innovation andideology

Were on a road to nowhere Come on inside Takin that ride to nowhere Well take that ride Talking Heads

Bo Allese Christensen De t! o" Agroe#olog$ and%n&iron'ent( Aarh)s *ni&ersit$

Introduction

The #o' le+it$ o" the entangle'ent ,et een e#ono'i# and so#io-#)lt)ral areas o" o)r li&es

'ani"ests itsel" in a n)',er o" di""erent a$s! This a er re&ol&es aro)nd one as e#t o" this'ani"estation( na'el$ the idea o" inno&ation! The #on#e t o" inno&ation i' lies a de'and o"ne ness( "or e+a' le the #reation o" ne rod)#ts to ens)re a #o' an$.s 'arket ad&antageor the #reation o" ne ro#esses to ens)re a higher degree o" e""i#ien#$ at a hos ital!/)rther'ore( inno&ation is #onne#ted ith the idea o" a 'ethodolog$ ens)ring that the res)lt

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o" an$ inno&ati&e endea&o)r al a$s #o'es o)t as so'ething ne ! As a 'ethodolog$(inno&ation is s) osedl$ #a a,le o" in#or orating all sorts o" in )ts as 'eans to the end o"this ne ness! *ser-dri&en inno&ation o)ld ,e an e+a' le o" this! I'agine a rod)#tion o"

heel#hairs ith the inno&ati&e ro#ess ,eing done ,$ engineers and designers onl$! The'ethodolog$ o" )ser-dri&en inno&ation( then( o)ld in#or orate the )sers o" heel#hairs inthe de&elo 'ent as ell( ,oth the dire#t and indire#t )sers!

The de'and o" ne ness and the 'ethodologi#al a,ilit$ to in#or orate a di&ersit$ o"reso)r#es is #onne#ted to ider #)rrents ithin this #o' le+ entangle'ent! These #)rrentshas ,een des#ri,ed in a n)',er o" a$s( three o" hi#h e ill indi#ate here! /irst( there isthe #)rrent des#ri,ed as cognitive capitalism ! The /ren#h e#ono'ist 0ann o)lier-Bo)tang

23314 des#ri,es this #)rrent as a s$ste' o" a##)')lation ri'aril$ "o)nded ) on kno ledge(here the e+ternalities the reso)r#es originall$ o)tside o" the e#ono'i# s here areintegrated into the e#ono'i# s here! 6no ledge ,oth is and ,e#o'es the 'ain reso)r#e inthe process o" #reating &al)e as art o" this a##)')lation! Hen#e( di""erent kinds o"kno ledge ha&e ,e#o'e in#reasingl$ i' ortant in #reating ne rod)#ts( te#hnologies(organisations( 'arketing( ro#esses and so on( ith the ai' o" #reating 'ore gro th hether"or ri&ate #o' anies or at the so#ietal le&el! Se#ond( this in#or orating o" kno ledge #analso ,e seen as so'e kind o" i' erialis' as the %nglish e#ono'ist Ben /ine 23334 ter's it

the in#reasing #oloni ation o" so#ial s#ien#es ,$ e#ono'i#s re la#ing re&io)sass)' tions o" an o&erl$ rational indi&id)al as the oint o" de art)re o" e#ono'i#s ith the#ategor$ o" the so#ial( highl$ s e#iali ed s#ienti"i# kno ledge is )sed as a anal$ti#al toolhel ing the e#ono'$ #reating ne inno&ati&e &al)e as art o" this s$ste' o" a##)')lation!

Third and last( the t o "irst oints #an ,e s)''ari ed ,$ the #on#e t o" a ne s irit o"#a italis' anal$sed ,$ Boltansk$ and Chia ello 23354! The #a a#it$ o" in#or orating and#a italise areas e+ternal to the e#ono'$( in#l)ding areas critical o" #a italist e#ono'$( is a

'ark o" #a italis' in its third s irit1

! ithin this s irit( or regi'e o" a##)')lation( #reati&it$(kno ledge and inno&ation are so)r#es o" ne e#ono'i#al &al)e and o,:e#ts o" #a italista##)')lation and e+ loitation! The reason is( a##ording to Boltansk$ and Chia ello( that

rod)#tion ,e#o'es )ll-oriented( i!e! its "o#)s re&ol&es aro)nd the str)#t)res o" de'andithin the 'arket( and hen#e #reates the need "or ad:)sting innovatively to ne de'ands!

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Hen#e( the #o' le+it$ e took as o)r oint o" de art)re is #onne#ted to inno&ation in thesense that inno&ation ,e#o'es a 'ethodolog$ "or hel ing incorporating e+ternal reso)r#es(subsuming the' )nder an e#ono'i# s$ste' o" a##)')lation and #reating the ,est "le+i,le

#onditions "or doing this again and again! As indi#ated ,$ the #)rrent "inan#ial #risis( a #ontin)o)s #a italist de&elo 'ent in the

g)ise o" a ne&er-ending a##)')lation o" &al)es is not an eas$ task to a##o' lish! It is( as;ii ekian sense as an ines#a a,le #ondition "or all thinking and notso'ething e are a,le to o&er#o'e! Ho e&er , it ill e'erge "ro' the "ollo ing that this#ondition 'ani"ests itsel" in the sha e o" a distorted )se o" #on#e ts( and the #onne#tions,et een the'! De'onstrating a #riti=)e o" ra#ti#e o" #on#e t )se( it is #lai'ed( is one o" the

ri'e tasks o" a #riti=)e o" ideolog$! Criti#i ing the )se o" #on#e ts and #onne#tions 'ade,et een the'( hi#h #onne#tions hold )nder ")rther s#r)tin$( and hi#h e+ ress onl$

reten#e is #o' ati,le ith a #riti=)e o" ideolog$! Ho e&er( this is al a$s "a#ing the)n#ertaint$( tho)gh( that the #riti=)e itsel" needs ")rther #orre#tion! This ill ,e de'onstratedthro)gh an ideolog$-#riti#al anal$sis( :)+ta osing ;i

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)sed in #riti#i ing the #on#e ts o" ,est and ne+t ra#ti#e! /inall$( so'e s)ggestions on thei' li#ation o" esta,lishing a ossi,le #onne#tion ,et een the t o #on#e ts are resented!

Next Practice: two examples

et )s start ith the inno&ation dis#o)rse and the t o e+a' les o" the )se o" #on#e t o" ne+tra#ti#e as a 'ethodolog$! Both e+a' les originate "ro' t o de&elo 'ent di&isions in the),li# se#tors o" Den'ark and Britain( res e#ti&el$! /irstl$( the entr$next practice on the

ho'e age o" the British Inno&ation *nit2( and se#ondl$( an e+a' le "ro' a Danish ,ook titledPrinciples of public innovation !rom "est Practice to the #ext Practice Bendi+et al 23384!

I' lied in ,oth e+a' les is the idea o" de&elo ing a tool or 'ethod "or #ontin)o)sl$ i' ro&ingand 'aking the di""erent ra#ti#es ,oth e#ono'i#al and non-e#ono'i#al4 in the ),li# se#tor'ore e#ono'i#al e""i#ient! The de'and "or ne ness enters here( ,e#a)se an$ ra#ti#e hi#h

orks is the ,est ra#ti#e ,)t onl$ so "ar! Hen#e( it is #lai'ed( e need to look "orso'ething ne the ne+t ra#ti#e( and rea#hing this ra#ti#e in a 'ethodologi#al a$ is theai'! As e ill see this 'ethod ,ears the 'arks o" so'ething ideologi#al( and in the ne+tse#tion e ill dis#)ss ho a >i ekian in"or'ed &ie on ideolog$ #an hel )s )nderstandthis!

In the ne+t ra#ti#e entr$( the Inno&ation *nit e+ lains ne+t ra#ti#e as a "o#)s on theto'orro it is the roo' "or reali ed i' ro&e'ents hi#h is there( ,)t ne&er here! In a #ertainsense hat is here( then( is the #on&entional good or ,est ra#ti#e that thisnext practice triesto re&ol)tioni e or e&ol&e! The entr$ #ites an inter&ie ith the late( inno&ation-g)r) C!6!

rahalad as a a$ o" e+a' le

EFThere is a lot o" resear#h "o#)sed on ,est ra#ti#e( ,)t I "o#)s on ne+tra#ti#e! Ne+t ra#ti#e ,$ de"inition has three ro,le's "irstl$( it is ")t)re-

orientedG se#ondl$( no single instit)tion or #o' an$ is an e+e' lar o"e&er$thing that $o) think ill ha enG and thirdl$( ne+t ra#ti#e is a,o)ta' li"$ing eak signals( #onne#ting the dots! Ne+t ra#ti#e is dis#i linedi'agination!F rahalad( C!6!( 233 ! Inter&ie osted on The /ort)ne at theBotto' o" the $ra'id4

/)rther'ore( Charles ead,eater one o" Britain.s leading a)thorities on inno&ation and

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#reati&it$ des#ri,es ne+t ra#ti#e as e'ergent inno&ations initiating ne a$s o" orking(here s)#h inno&ations are 'ost likel$ to #o'e "ro' tho)ght")l( e+ erien#ed( sel"-#on"identra#titioners tr$ing to "ind ne and 'ore e""e#ti&e sol)tions to intra#ta,le ro,le's! The

o er oint slide fig $%, de i#ting the di""eren#e ,et een ,est and next practice at the,otto' o" the ho'e age( highlights the dis#i lined i'agination o" these ra#titioners ,est

ra#ti#e is do'inated ,$ #)rrent "o#)s and is ado ti&e( hereas next practice is do'inated ,$a ")t)re "o#)s and is ada ti&e!

!ig $

Th)s( ne+t ra#ti#e as a 'ethod i' lies a #hange in ers e#ti&e "ro' the ,est ra#ti#e to thenext practice G a #hange ai'ed at #ontrolling thinking to e""e#t)ate a di""erent a$ o" doingthings! et this set the stage "or the ne+t e+a' le( the Danish ,ook 'entioned earlier( and

hi#h Jin#identall$. hasfrom best practice to the next practice as a s),title!The ,asi# ers e#ti&e in this ,ook is the ")n#tion o" the short hraseWhat if as an e$e-o ener "or things to ha en -What if is the ger' o" all inno&ation

What if o)r ork is ,ased not onl$ on hat e kno orks( ,)t also o ens

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o)r e$es to hat #o)ld ork ,etterK What if this o ening ga e as integratedinto all o)r ork ro#esses( and not onl$ arked in arallel and ti'e li'itedde&elo 'ent ro:e#tsK Bendi+et al 2338 17 '$ translation4

B$ )sing o)r i'agination as tool in this =)estioning ro#ess( e are #a a,le o" sol&ingdi""i#)lties e don.t kno the sol)tion to $et! The i'agination ro#ess s) osedl$ gi&es )s the"reedo' o" "oreseeing( i'agining hat #o)ld ha en and the a,ilit$ to a#t in s)#h a a$ thato)r idea o" hat #o)ld ha en( a#t)all$ ha ens! In this a$

What if o ens ) ne a$s o" thinking and the ossi,ilit$ o" transgressing the)s)al a$s o" doing things! This =)estioning is al a$s "or ard-"a#ing and

roa#ti&e! It is not a,o)t hat has alread$ ,een done( ,)t a,o)t hat is ne+t(the next practice Bendi+et al 2338 18 '$ translation4

What if as a 'ethod o" dis#i lining o)r i'agination is a ra#ti#e ai'ed at #ontrolling o)rthinking o" inno&ation! This 'eans 'onitoring o)r )s)al a$s o" doing things( hi#h( o"#o)rse( is the ,est ra#ti#e so far ! D)e to the "a#t that inno&ation is 'ore an ans er to#hallenges #hanging #ontin)o)sl$( ,est ra#ti#e is like $esterda$.s ne s( art o" an ongoing

ro#ess( a ste ing stone on the a$ to the ne+t deadline E"est practice & hether it is realor de"ined is a i#t)re o" a s)##ess( ,)t a s)##ess o" the ast - the #onditions o" this

ra#ti#e ha&e 'ost likel$ #hanged sin#e it as rono)n#ed as the ,est Bendi+ et al 2338

2 4! The ,est ra#ti#e( then( is a ra#ti#e in need o" ,eing re la#ed ,$ e&er-ne er practices So ne+t ra#ti#e is not a,o)t re:e#ting ,est ra#ti#e s4( ,)t( it is #lai'ed( a,o)t 'aking a#hange o" ers e#ti&e

The idea is( then( not to re:e#tbest practice ( "or the target o" inno&ation is a,etter ra#ti#e( ,)t the ers e#ti&e sho)ld ,e "o#)sed ')#h 'ore on next

practice Inno&ation is dire#ted "or ard and de&elo s as a #onse=)en#e o"the #onditions o"( and the ork and engage'ent ,eing a lied to the task!

Bendi+et al 2338 2 '$ translation4

This #hange o" ers e#ti&e( the ra#ti#e o"What if as a 'ethod( i' lies a di""erent a$ o"relating to ,oth the 'ore ositi&e tasks and the negati&e di""i#)lties e en#o)nter in o)r )s)albest practice ! It is a #ontin)o)s re orking( or re"ining( o" o)r ra#ti#e( good ,e#a)se it is the,est ra#ti#e so "ar4 or ,ad #o' ared to the ne+t ra#ti#e4( #reating a ,etter ra#ti#e instead!

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oreo&er( this ro#ess #ontin)es itho)t end( ,e#a)se EMone sol)tion a#hie&ed( o ens )"or ne #hallenges to ,e sol&ed! Bendi+et al 2338 254!

Conse=)entl$( ,oth the British Inno&ation *nit and the Danish a)thors share the

#on&i#tion that there is al a$s roo' "or i' ro&e'ent( and( hen#e( that e sho)ld ne&er settle"or the ,est ra#ti#e! Ne+t ra#ti#e is la#ed in a ti'e"ra'e o" the ")t)reG it is hat is ossi,le(in #ontrast to the ast or resent( hi#h is the alread$ esta,lished ,est ra#ti#e! ords likerevolutioni'e, evolve, renewal, open up, without end and what if all see' to indi#ate an)n"inished task o" #hanging hat has alread$ ,een done! The er'anent #hange thatBoltansk$ and Chia ello #lai' is one o" the signs o" inno&ation in the third s irit o" #a italis'(is o,&io)s! Besides( e sho)ld note the e+ li#it g)idan#e o" e&al)ation dis#ri'inating ,est

"ro' the ne+t4( g)idan#e o" a#tion what if as a 'ethod4( o er o&er #ognition the dis#i linedi'agination4 and logi#al #oheren#e from ,est to ne+t ra#ti#e4 as ell( all indi#ators o"ideolog$ a##ording to )llins 19724! These "o)r #hara#teristi#s are to ,e i' lied in the )se o"the #on#e ts o" ,est ra#ti#e and ne+t ra#ti#e( hi#h e ill dis#)ss ,elo !It is ;i

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agenda o" hiloso h$( so#ial s#ien#e and e#ono'i#s "or 'ost o" the 23 th #ent)r$! A##ording to/ine( ,oth the rote#tion o" the li"e- orld "ro' an e#ono'i#al-instr)'ental takeo&er e "ind inHa,er'as. thinking and( to so'e e+tent( in Honneth.s as ell( and the o osite neoli,eral

e#ono'i#al e""ort in )shing this take-o&er "or ard ,elongs to hat he #alls "irst hasee#ono'i# i' erialis'! %&en the s),tle anal$sis. done ,$ the in#i ient "ig)res o" ideolog$-#riti=)e( s)#h as )ka#s or the earl$ /rank")rt s#hool( tr$ing to Eenlighten eo le ,$dis#losing their distorted re resentations o" a re-gi&en realit$( is art o" this "irst hasee#ono'i#al i' erialis'! /ine #ontrasts this ith se#ond hase e#ono'i# i' erialis'( hi#his the take-o&er o" thesocial sciences ,$ di""erent Ealternati&e e#ono'i#al 'ethods o"anal$sis! /ine 2313G 2313a4 #onsiders t o e+a' les glo,ali ation and the idea o" so#ial

#a ital s4 and sho s( in ,oth #ases( that so#ial s#ientists ,elie&e the$ are )sing'ethodologi#al ne)tral #on#e ts in des#ri,ing and anal$ ing ne so#io-e#ono'i#al#on"ig)rations( hen the$ are a#t)all$ ad&an#ing alread$ esta,lished e#ono'i#al str)#t)res

like the agenda o" the orld ,ank4 or #reating ne 'arkets!Both hases ill here ,e inter reted as #orres onding to t o distin#t ,)t inherentl$

#onne#ted a$s o" #on#e t)ali ing the ideologi#al( as ;i

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ideolog$ ,$ the #riti=)e o" ideolog$! Hen#e( tr$ing toconvince eo le that the$ are a#t)all$re rod)#ing s)s e#t so#io-e#ono'i# str)#t)res is art o" the "irst e#ono'i# i' erialis' as

ell! ike ise( an i' li#it tr)th #lai' is at ork here EThis kind o" inno&ation is not

trans"era,le "ro' the ri&ate to the ),li# se#tor ( as ell as an )na&o ed o er interest( i!e!there is another s e#i"i# kind o" inno&ation( hi#hought to ,e )sed in the ),li# se#tor!

To see ho ideolog$ "or-it-sel" #orres onds to se#ond hase e#ono'i# i' erialis'( let'e =)ote Ben /ine 23134 on so#ial #a ital at so'e length

So#ial #a ital has #o'e to o##) $( e&en to dis la#e( 'ore traditional notionso" #o'')nit$ and #i&il so#iet$! Its ro onents tend to a&oid an$thing to do

ith those other great str)#t)res o" 'odern so#iet$( the state and the 'arket(altho)gh er"or'an#e ithin and a#ross these is dee'ed to ,e enhan#ed ,$higher le&els o" so#ial #a ital! This is itsel" indi#ati&e o" the e+tent to hi#hso#ial #a ital has #o'e to ,e er#ei&ed as a #)re-all( ,oth "or ersonal ell-,eing and "or the ider so#iet$! And this #an lead to so'e dangero)sass)' tions! /or e+a' le( the orld Bank has hea&il$ ro'oted so#ial#a ital as the E'issing link in de&elo 'ent( dra ing on a st)d$ o" Tan anian&illages hi#h )r orted to sho that :oining a ,)rial so#iet$ as si+ ti'es'ore i' ortant "or o&ert$ alle&iation than "e'ale ed)#ation!

hereas the "irst art o" this =)ote #an ,e seen as en"or#ing so#ial #a ital as a ne kind o"tr)th( ith the e+#l)sion o" the state and the 'arket as a #onse=)en#e( and there"ore as an

e+a' le o" ideolog$-in-it-sel"( the interesting oint is theuse o" the #on#e t o" so#ial #a ital,$ the orld Bank! So#ial #a ital is )sed here as an e+ternalit$( ,esides 'one$( ,$ the orldBank and its asso#iated resear#hers! The idea ,ehind this is one o" #)lti&ating #onne#tions,et een eo le ass)'ing that the 'ore eo le $o) kno the ha ier $o)r li"e ill ,e!H)ndreds o" &aria,les ha&e ,een )sed to de"ine and measure so#ial #a ital( "ro' the t o-

arent "a'il$ o&er s orts #l), 'e',ershi s to hat /ine rightl$ ter's ,i arre( the i'aginar$so#ial #a ital $o) ha&e ith #hara#ters in soa o eras! The 'oti&e ,ehind the orld Bank.sinterest is( o" #o)rse( ra#ti#al( as /ine 23134 e+ lains

Des ite all the h$ e and go&ern'ent-s onsored resear#h to 'eas)re so#ial#a ital( I kno o" no e+a' le o" the #on#erted and s)##ess")l )se o" so#ial#a ital in #reating oli#ies! Instead( so'ething ')#h 'ore sinister is at ork!?o&ern'ents ho ha&e alread$ 'ore or less de#ided hat oli#$ is to ,ei' le'ented ill )se so#ial #a ital to legiti'ise their ai's! This has ,eentr)e( "or e+a' le( o" orld Bank oli#$ in re'o&ing indigeno)s o )lations to

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allo "or 'ining ro:e#ts! And large-s#ale 'ining #o' anies ha&e ,eendeli,eratel$ and sele#ti&el$ ,)ilding hat the$ the'sel&es #all so#ial #a ital

ith #o'')nities in order to ,e a,le to gain reso)r#e e+tra#tion er'issions'ore ")ll$ and 'ore =)i#kl$!

In this a$( the highl$ i''aterial s),stan#e( so#ial #a ital( is do),le-e+ternali ed "irstl$( ,$#reating a standard #o' ared to hi#h these 'eas)red indigeno)s eo le are destined tolose and se#ondl$( the indigeno)s eo le are a#t)all$ 'o&ed( and ro,a,l$ to a la#e herethe #han#es are that their so#ial #a ital( a##ording to the sa'e i' osed standard( illin#rease! /ine.s t o hases and ;i

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#he possibilities o$ a criti%ue o$ ideolo"&

So "ar e ha&e resented the 'ethod o" ne+t ra#ti#e and indi#ated its ideologi#al #hara#ter

,$ #onne#ting it ith /ine and ;i

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there 'ight ,e a #ase "or ointing to #onditions "or a ositi&e deter'ination o" realit$ itho)tthe dead-end o" an either-or logi#( and ;i

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onl$ 'ake so'e general introd)#tor$ re'arks on this in the "ollo ing! Se#ondl$( in the ne+taragra h( I a' going to #arr$ o)t an in&estigation into the )se o" the #on#e ts o" ne+t( ,est

and ra#ti#e( hi#h ill sho ho these #on#e ts are )sed ideologi#all$ in the inno&ation

dis#o)rse! This is to ,e )nderstood as art o" an in#i ient e+ li#ating o" a 'ore general)nderstanding o" ho these #on#e ts are s) osed to ,e )sed #orre#tl$! Hen#e( the oint isnot re la#ing one theor$ the re resentationalist4 o" tr)th ith another! Instead( I take this to,e in line ith Cora Dia'ond.s thinking on the )n"olding o" tr)th that e sho)ld re la#e a=)est "or de"ining the #on#e t o" tr)th( and #onne#ted notions like #orre#tness( in#orre#tnessand so on( ith the idea E!!!o" #lari"$ing( )n"olding( the notion o" tr)th( not thro)gh a theor$ ,)tthro)gh e+ li#ating a ord hi#h itsel" 'eans unfolding 4 the nor'ati&e #onstraints on

:)dging!!! Dia'ond 233 254! Ins ired ,$ the ?er'an hiloso her artin Seel 23324( Iant to sho ho these #onstraints are #onne#ted to #orre#ting o)r #on#e t-)sing ra#ti#e!This ill then ser&e as the general ,a#kgro)nd on hi#h the #riti=)e o" the )se o" #on#e ts inthe inno&ation dis#o)rse sho)ld ,e seen!

/irstl$( e sho)ld noti#e( that #on#e t-)se is( at the o)tset( #onne#ted to lang)age as a'edi)' o" J orld.-dis#los)re and hen#e to tr)th and #orre#tness! %&en i" e( as ;i

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#onte+t o" a#tionL! Thirdl$( tr)th is a s e#ial( ro,)st kind o" #orre#tness! @o,)st in the sensethat true 'eans so'ething to ,e #onsidered ")rther( so'ething to ,e re#koned ith in anongoing "ashion! /or an$ #orre#t #on#e t-)se to ,e tr)th-#a a,le( a #ertain 'eaning s) lied

,$ the #onte+t ')st ,e i' lied! Tr)th and "alseness is( then( the capacity to transcend this#onte+t #onne#ted to this 'eaning that is( tr)th o,tains hen things are as the #on#e t-)se#lai's the' to ,e a right #a t)ring o" an instan#e o" a ositi&e deter'ined realit$! /alseness(then( is the "alli,le #ondition that things #an al a$s a ear other ise! %&en i" it is i' ossi,leto re#ognise it at the ti'e o" the a#t)al #on#e t-)se as long as the ro er )se is ane+ ression o" the o ening )nderstanding( 'entioned a,o&e( it is al a$s ossi,le to gras

hat it 'eans "or the #on#e t-)se to ,e tr)e! /o)rthl$( and lastl$( #orre#tness is then a

#ondition "or tr)th( and tr)th is a #orre#ti&e "or #orre#tness! Tr)th is de endent on #orre#tnessin the sense that tr)th #an onl$ ,e dis#losed here lang)age( and hen#e #on#e ts( are )sed#orre#tl$! Ho e&er( tr)th trans#ends #orre#tness in the sense that e&en the 'ost #orre#t#on#e t-)se is in#a a,le o" deter'ining the tr)th trans#enden#e indi#ates instead( the#ontin)o)s ossi,ilit$ o" #orre#ting #orre#tness! Qr( as Cora Dia'ond 'ight )t it the#ontin)o)s )n"olding o" tr)th!

Corre#tion( then( is a ro#ess o" anal$sing the #orre#tness o" a gi&en #on#e t-)se iththe ai' o" esta,lishing the ossi,ilit$ o" dis#losing tr)th in the sense o" )n"olding so'ethingne and a earing! @et)rning to the trans"or'ing o" the #riti=)e o" ideolog$ into a #riti=)e o"ling)isti# ra#ti#e 'entioned a,o&e( the idea o" tr)th sho ing itsel" in ideolog$ de ends ono)r correcting a gi&en #on#e t-)se( ,)t ith the a areness o" this enter rises. )n#ertaint$(and hen#e o" ideolog$ as a ossi,le er'anent #ondition! ith that in 'ind let )s t)rn to#orre#ting the )se o" the #on#e ts o" ,est and ne+t ra#ti#e!

(ilbert R&le and cate"or& mista!es

et )s re#a it)late! e ha&e esta,lished that that there is an ideologi#al glo in&ol&ed in theidea o" ne+t ra#ti#e! Hen#e( a #riti=)e o" ideolog$ as ado ted as ers e#ti&e( a##e ting;i

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ideolog$ as a #ondition( ,)t pace ;i

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ra#ti#e is i' ortant "or #a italis'( then @$le ro&ides )s ithhow it ,e#o'es i' ortant!/irst o" all( ,est ra#ti#e and ne+t ra#ti#e( #onstit)te t o di""erent #ategori#al

assess'ents o" ra#ti#e! The "or'er e+ resses a &alorisation and indi#ates an a re#iati&e

stan#e to ards so'e ra#ti#e as the ,est( hereas the latter e+ resses a te' oralit$( a")t)re e&ent( hi#h #o'es ne+t! Se#ond( these t o #ategori#al assess'ents are )t together

ith the )se o" from to( #reating a ne#essit$ o" rogressing "ro' one ra#ti#e to the otherra#ti#e( )sing ne+t ra#ti#e as a 'ethod! Both oints indi#ate that o)r e+a' le o" a ra#ti#e

o" inno&ation is in&ol&ed ith hat ?il,ert @$le 19 94 ter's acategory mistake ( i!e! t$ing t odi""erent ontologi#al #ategories together in a 'istaken 'anner! A #ategor$ 'istake is a'is)nderstanding o" the logi#al geogra h$ o" #ertain #on#e ts! @$le 19 9 84 e+ resses it

this a$

To deter'ine the logi#al geogra h$ o" #on#e ts is to re&eal the logi# o" thero ositions in hi#h the$ are ielded( that is to sa$( to sho ith hat otherro ositions the$ are #onsistent and in#onsistent( hat ro ositions "ollo

"ro' the' and "ro' hat ro ositions the$ "ollo ! The logi#al t$ e or#ategor$ to hi#h a #on#e t ,elongs is the set o" a$s in hi#h it is logi#all$legiti'ate to o erate ith it!

A 'istake( then( #onsists in #on")sing the #ategor$ to hi#h a #on#e t ,elongs ith another#ategor$( th)s )sing the #on#e t in an erroneo)sl$ logi#al a$! @$le.s ri'e e+a' le @$le19 9 234 is ho the #on#e t o" 'ind #a'e to ,e de i#ted as a ghost in the 'a#hine( or('ore a##)ratel$( as a s e#tral 'a#hine "ro' Des#artes and on ard! /a#ed ith ?alileo andHo,,es. 'e#hani#al )ni&erse( Des#artes a##ording to @$le - #o)ld not #o e ith the "a#tthat the 'ind as :)st so'ething 'e#hani#al as ell! To sa"eg)ard the e#)liarit$ o" the 'indand its orkings( then( a s lit into the h$si#al and the 'ental as ro#lai'ed( the "irst ,eings),:e#t to 'e#hani#al #a)ses and the se#ond to non-'e#hani#al #a)ses the "a'o)s ghost inthe 'a#hine4! The di""eren#es ,et een the h$si#al and the 'ental ere then( a##ording to@$le 19 9 194

Mre resented as di""eren#es inside the #o''on "ra'e ork o" #ategoriesJthings.( Jst)"".( Jattri,)te.( Jstate.( J ro#ess.( J#hange.( J#a)se.( Je""e#t.! indsare things( ,)t di""erent sorts o" things "ro' ,odiesG 'ental ro#esses are

1L

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#a)ses and e""e#ts( ,)t di""erent sorts o" #a)ses and e""e#ts "ro' ,odil$'o&e'ents! And so on!

The 'istake( o" #o)rse( as Des#artes. inter reting 'ind as s),s)'ed )nder the sa'e#ategories as 'atter! Hen#e( @$le.s oint is not den$ing the e+isten#e o" either 'ental or

h$si#al ro#esses! @ather his oint is ,oth #on#e t)al in the sense that EMthe hrase Jthereo##)r 'ental ro#esses. does not 'ean the sa'e as Jthere o##)r h$si#al ro#esses.M and

ra#ti#al in the sense that it i' inges ) on the )se o" the #ategories EMthere"ore( it 'akes nosense to #on:oin or dis:oin the t o! @$le 19 9 224 So( does a ,est ra#ti#e 'ean the sa'eas the ne+t ra#ti#e hen the$ are s),s)'ed )nder the #ategor$ o" rogression( from+to KQr( )sing one o" the #ategories @$le e' lo$s in the =)ote a,o&e sin#e the from+to #an ,e

seen as a ro#ess( is an$ gi&en ro#ess in&ol&ing ,est ra#ti#e and an$ gi&en ro#essin&ol&ing the ne+t ra#ti#e the sa'eK To s)' ) ( i" t o #on#e ts ,elong to the sa'e#ategor$( it is right to #onstr)#t #on:oining or dis:oining ro ositions e',od$ing the'! I" $o)#on:oin t o #on#e ts not ,elonging to the sa'e #ategor$( ho e&er( #han#es are that $o) ill,e de#ei&ed ,$ a #onne#tion not a#t)all$ there e&en tho)gh it see's so! So ret)rning to the#on#e ts o" ,est and ne+t( the si' le oint is that #onne#ting these t o #on#e ts together

ith the in"erential string o"from+to #reates a glo o" ne#essit$ ,et een the'( a ne#essit$ o"lea&ing one "or the other! Hen#e( the #ategori#al 'istake does not #onsist in den$ing that it is

ossi,le to #onne#t ,est ra#ti#e and ne+t ra#ti#e( onl$ that there is a sense o" ne#essit$,et een the'!

So the ideologi#al i' ort o" the 'ethod o" ne+t ra#ti#e #onsists in the "ollo ing thee""e#t o" s),s)'ing ,oth ra#ti#es )nder one #ategor$( the ro#ess o" from+to ( #reates the,orro ing "ro' the ")t)re! /)rther'ore( it #on#eals the "a#t o" its o n i' ossi,ilit$ ,$es#a ing into the ")t)re thro)gh the la#k o" e&er realising the ne+t ra#ti#e! The #ontin)o)sdis#ri'ination ,et een ,est and ne+t( the dis#i lined i'agination )sing what if as a 'ethod(

and the logi#al #oheren#e o" a #lai'ed ro#eeding "ro'!!!to( all ser&e as a road to no here 7!Inno&ation( then( is like a 'ethodologi#al perpetuum mobile ser&ing #a italis'.s endlessde'and "or gro th disg)ised as a #ontin)o)s de&elo 'ent! A#t)all$ arri&ing at a ne+t

ra#ti#e( tho)gh( o)ld entail a sto ing o" hat $o) are doingG "a#ing the i' ossi,ilit$ o" theendea&o)r o" er et)al e+ anding a#ti&it$( hen#e( =)estioning hat this de'and "or gro th is

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a#t)all$ "or!

) possible connection between best and next?

Criti#ising the ra#ti#e o" )sing a #onne#tion o" ne#essit$ ,et een ,est and ne+t ra#ti#ee+e' li"ied in the anal$sis a,o&e( is a #ase o" learning so'ething( o" 'aking an e+ erien#e!It is( there"ore( an e+a' le o" the esta,lish'ent o" an o ening )nderstanding "or a #orre#t#on#e t-)se and the ossi,ilit$ o" #a t)ring tr)th as ell #orre#tness( it as #lai'ed( rendersthe ")l"il'ent o" the ai' o" a gi&en #on#e t-)se ossi,le( but does not entail it! ishing toesta,lish the #onditions "or a #orre#t #onne#tion ,ased on the a,o&e anal$sis( then( e

sho)ld ,e 'ind")l that hat is #ertain is the )n#ertaint$ o" ossi,le ")rther #orre#tions! So the"ollo ing #onditions #an ,e seen as a si' le laido$er "or reser&ing the ossi,ilit$ o"

ointing to so'e s),stantialit$ ithin the deno)n#ing o" ideolog$( ,$ #onsidering ho the#onne#tion ,et een the #on#e t-)se o" ,est ra#ti#e and ne+t ra#ti#e #an a#t)all$ 'akesense( i" e ant to #ontin)e #onne#ting ,est ith ne+t!

/irst o" all( e 'ight dis#onne#t the )se o" ne+t ra#ti#e "ro' the e' tiness i' lied inthe #onte+t o" #a italis' as ;i

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The ne e&ol&es into the 'erel$ e&il "irst thro)gh totalitarian g)idan#e(herein the tension o" the indi&id)als to so#iet$( hi#h on#e reali ed the

#ategor$ o" the ne ( is n)lli"ied! Toda$ the a eal to the ne regardless o"hat kind( ro&ided onl$ it is ar#hai# eno)gh has ,e#o'e )ni&ersal( the

),i=)ito)s 'edi)' o" "alse 'i'esis! The de#o' osition o" the s),:e#t is#o' leted ,$ handing itsel" o&er to a #onstantl$ di""ering( )n#hanging)ni"or'it$ R(mmergleichheit ! $ translation4

Here this "alse 'i'esis is #onne#ted to e#ono'$ inno&ation as ne+t ra#ti#e ,oth ,orro s"ro' and es#a es into the ")t)re and #lo)ds this as de&elo 'ent hen in "a#t it is stagnation'ade 'ethodologi#al! The totalitarian g)idan#e Adorno s eaks o" ,e#o'es the 'ethod o" a#ontin)o)s reali ation o" the ne ( hi#h "ails the 'o'ent it is reali ed! Inno&ation in this

sense is th)s a road to no here( a ne&er-ending stor$( lea&ing the inno&ati&e s),:e#t ithnothing ,)t the #ondition o" e&er #hanging( rene a,le ro#esses( hi#h ro&es e' t$ henreali ed!

Adorno( ")rther( in the sa'e =)otation( sa$s JThe ne ( a ,lank la#e in #ons#io)sness(a aited as i" ith #losed e$es( see's to ,e the "or')la ,$ 'eans o" hi#h a sti')l)s ise+tra#ted "ro' horror and des air! It 'akes e&il into "lo ers.! e sho)ld take this as are'inder o" the ,lindness o" an endea&o)r sear#hing "or the ne ( and "or the sake o" the ne (onl$! itho)t an$ ethi#all$ in"or'ed de#ision or at least nor'ati&e g)idan#e o" so'e sort( an$'onstrosit$ #an ,e installed as a ne+t ra#ti#e as long it is ne ! Adorno.s re hrasing o" 6ant.s#ategori#al i' erati&e as a#t so the terror o" A)s#h it #annot ha en again is an e+a' le o"'aking )s see the nor'ati&e i' ort o" esta,lishing a ne ra#ti#e! Con&erted to the idea o"

ra#ti#al #orre#tness the #orres onding oint is( that there is a di'ension in the )se o"lang)age hi#h is #onne#ted to so'e idea o" res onsi,ilit$( erha s lang)age as a 'ode o"retaining a res onsi,ilit$ "or ,oth the what and the who o" lang)age!

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'onclusion

In this a er e ha&e tried to )se o" ;i

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1 Not ,eing a,le to do :)sti#e to the s),tleties o" their ork( tho)gh( the "ollo ing di&ision indi#atesthe di""eren#e ,et een the "irst and the se#ond s irit! The "irst s irit #onsists o" the earl$de&elo 'ents o" #a italis' in the si+teenth and se&enteenth #ent)ries in #lose #onne#tion ith,oth a religio)s and )tilitaristi# 'ind set and the in#i ient ind)strialis'! The se#ond hase( or s irit("ro' #a! 19 3 19L3 #onsists o" the distri,)tion o" Ta$loris'( the e""i#ien#$ i' ro&e'ent o"#o' anies thro)gh #al#)lation and rationalit$ the asse',l$ line o)ld ,e the s$',ol "or this!2 htt !inno&ation)nit!org ne+t- ra#ti#e hat-is-ne+t- rati#e!ht'l A##essed Q#to,er 2313!3 Qr 'ore a##)ratel$ like the antino'ies ,$ 6ant is a s$ste'ati# e+ ression o" theoreti#al4 reasongone astra$( that is( not sta$ing ithin the ,o)ndaries o" its proper e+er#ise( so ;i

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/ine( Ben and ilonakis( Di'itris 23394 !rom 7conomic (mperialism to !reakonomics9 Theshifting boundaries "etween 7conomics and :ther Social Sciences @o)tledge ondonand Ne 0ork

H)e,ner( ! 23354 .A ossi,le de#lining trend "or orld ide inno&ation.(Technological !orecasting; Social Change 72 983 98L

o)lier-Bo)tang( 0ann 23314 J ar+ in 6ali"ornien Der dritte 6a italis')s )nd die alte olitis#heYkono'ie.(