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JAMES, WITTGENSTEIN AND THE PRAGMATISM OF SOLUTION FOCUS APPROACH
Abstract
Solution focused approach to problem-solving means creating a solution instead of solving the problem. What is the difference? It logically separates the solution from the problem. It is deeply counterintuitive because in our culture problem seems to be closely related to the solution. This is why we analyze the problem thoroughly in order to find an optimal solution: we scrutinize the situation, create a plan, look for resources, carry out the plan (create the solution), and then monitor the result. It is a very rational process in which you think through every single step. It is usually a long process. It has two fundamental problems: 1) In a quickly changing environment you may not have enough time to learn the rules below the surface of the events to understand the causal relations - if there are any. 2) Even if there are causal relations, you not necessarily have enough time to discover them. In both cases, you have to act in a not-fully-understood situation. Solution focus is based on the experience that the solution is not necessarily related to the problem. It is coming from the field of psychotherapy where one has to solve complex problems in a largely hidden, partially understood world of phenomena. One can say that our whole world is just like that: partially understood, and - if contemporary physics is right - largely hidden one. Pragmatism also elaborated a non-justificationist truth-concept, which is more flexible than it's justificationist counterparts. Their relation is interesting not only as a question of intellectual history. It can be interesting also in today's VUCA world, looking for opportunities to deal with volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous situations. This paper is about finding connections between Solution Focus and pragmatism.
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