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Paper short abstract

We argue that pluralism is a core value for inter-and transdisciplinarity. We examine notions of ethical, political, and epistemological pluralism, drawing on experiences, examples, as well as challenges within the Berlin Ethics Certificate [BEC], an inter- and transdisciplinary program.

Paper long abstract

We argue that pluralism is a core value for inter- and transdisciplinarity. In light of growing anti-pluralistic and authoritarian tendencies in contemporary politics and socio-technical systems, it is crucial to reflect on the meaning and practices of pluralism from ethical, epistemological, and political philosophy perspectives, and to draw implications for inter- and transdisciplinary higher education (Keestra & Schmidt 2024). Thus, in this contribution, we examine notions of ethical, political, and epistemological pluralism, drawing on experiences with the Berlin Ethics Certificate [BEC] (Ammon et al., 2022). The BEC is an inter- and transdisciplinary program that offers students the opportunity to develop competencies in ethics, technology, and science reflection, and which reached over 450 students from 137 fields of study. Pluralism became an integral part of the BEC on several levels: First, it serves as the starting point for the program, in which students with diverse disciplinary and social backgrounds are invited to participate in classes together. Secondly, based on this diversity, cooperative practices are emphasized. Through experimental formats that specifically address the heterogeneity of knowledge, values, and opinions, students learn to articulate their perspectives, situate their knowledge and engage with each other. Thirdly, students are encouraged and supported to work intensively on real-world problems together with non-academic actors. In this way, the BEC seeks to convey a pluralistic attitude through situated and experiential learning, in which inter- and transdisciplinarity become integrated practices of responsible research and problem solving.