Editoriale
10.6092/issn.1973-9494/15237
application/pdf
1973-9494
15237
en
Mauro Mantovani
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage
Editorial
Text.Serial.Journal
https://conservation-science.unibo.it/
21
Editorial
2022-08-02
2022-07-18
2022-08-02
2022-08-02
57-65
CSCH
Mauro Mantovani
2021
10.6092/issn.1973-9494/15237
57
Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University; President of the Conference of Rectors of Roman Pontifical Universities and Institutions (CRUIPRO), Rome, Italy
1973-9494
en
65
Editorial: Syncretism and transdisciplinarity in art and life
https://conservation-science.unibo.it/article/download/15237/14455
21
E    DITORIAL


Syncretism and transdisciplinarity in art and life

Salvatore Lorusso
Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences

Mauro Mantovani
Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University, and President of the Conference of Rectors
of Roman Pontifical Universities and Institutions (CRUIPRO), Rome, Italy


   1. Conceptual terms and correspondent meanings

     Why this title for the editorial? Because the aim is to give an answer that combines
the meanings inherent in the two terms, “syncretism” and “transdisciplinarity”, through
the vision and application of a “digital humanism” in the art sector as well: this is what
prevails today and has a global impact on our lives that needs to be approached from
a holistic point of view.
     Syncretism, when it does not mean an uncritical mix of differentiated elements but
instead expresses a creative hermeneutics of valorization and integration of the differ-
ences, and transdisciplinarity, when it assumes the meaning that will be explained later
on, are two conceptual terms whose meaning testify to an intent and an understanding
which, by intersecting but taking different paths, participate synergically in a single re-
sult with different purposes.
     In particular, if it is true that there are an infinite number of paths leading to syncre-
tism because it is fusion of different doctrines, stories and cultures, other than in the
previous citation, the term is also found in the art world, as a synthesis of different ar-
tistic styles and languages in the creative act, in the study, research and consequent
evaluation, attribution and authentication of the work of art. These are objectives that
necessarily imply that the two historical-humanistic and technical-experimental cultures
and, therefore, also the experts in the respective scientific branches, work together in
a common synergic need and exchange.
     On the basis of such synergy, we refer to multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and
transdisciplinarity or crossdisciplinarity, for which it is appropriate to distinguish between
the different corresponding meanings.
     “Tout court” multidisciplinarity, seen as going beyond knowledge that derives from
a specific discipline, often risks being a mere summation of juxtaposed disciplines that,
as such, are anchored to an individuality of contents and meanings.
     Interdisciplinarity, which starts from the need triggered by multidisciplinarity, takes
into consideration other disciplines, opening up to them and interacting with them in
a reciprocal need of completion and reaching a common objective, confirming the
scientific content of each discipline.
     Transdisciplinarity or crossdisciplinarity, sometimes regarded as “strong interdisci-
plinarity”, is the following step, which at least attempts to achieve something more: the
                                       reciprocal enrichment and cross-fertilization of the different fields of knowledge which
                                       leads to confirmation of the above as a result of the methodology that implies a shared
                                       “locus” of wisdom and a close connection with the theories and methods of the scien-
                                       tific principles on which both the humanistic sciences and experimental sciences are
                                       based. A gnoseology, therefore, that has gained value and the ability to proceed which,
                                       on the one hand, are univocal, and on the other, not only respect singularities but also
                                       spread them. Transdisciplinarity should indeed promote that “extra” that allows each
                                       discipline to be enriched and fulfilled thanks to effective interaction.
                                            It is important to point out that the first two terms mentioned above are both present
                                       in the various universities, research bodies and institutions, even though basically it is
                                       multidisciplinarity that is encountered rather than interdisciplinarity, while transdiscipli-
                                       narity is an objective that still has to be reached through a meditated and pursued
                                       philosophy of knowledge, in the field of art as well.


                                          2. Research and formation in the art sector

                                           However, the objectives not only derive from the aspect related to solving prob-
                                       lems of protection and valorization in the cultural heritage sector by the experts work-
                                       ing in the various historical-humanistic and technical-experimental areas, because
                                       the objective of training and shaping young people must also be included. Consequently,
                                       particularly in the sphere of interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity – we refer to the
                                       two situations that clearly respond to the objectives that have been set – “Human
                                       Tech” knowledge and know-how is essential, entering the era of so called STEMan-
                                       ism, a combination of knowledge and competences in science, technology, engineer-
                                       ing, maths (STEM) and the humanities and digital humanities, which include lan-
                                       guage, logic, philosophy, and go beyond the educational models of the past: not
                                       strict degrees and vertical educational careers, but space and transversal continu-
                                       ous programmes.
                                           The formation of new generations must take into account the richness of diversity
                                       and valorize transversal competences, those that are acquired in the field through di-
                                       rect experience and intercultural perspectives, so that young people are not discour-
                                       aged, find they are unique owing to their origins, interests, passions, efforts and, on the
                                       basis of this “uniqueness”, know how to build their future professional and private life.
                                           It represents a chance to help them take the time to develop, with the awareness
S. Lorusso, M. Mantovani - Editorial




                                       that each experience, especially if it is duly accompanied, then personalized, molds
                                       their existence, gives them the joy to be able to look at new horizons, to build relation-
                                       ships and gain “soft skills” that can give shape to their own self and consequently to
                                       their working career.
                                           We do not mean to develop a theory out of the two aspects: the protection of cul-
                                       tural heritage and the formation of new generations. However, we believe that it is not
                                       a casual convergence and that it tells us something about the “essence of time”. The
                                       world we live in is becoming increasingly more complex and competition is getting
                                       stronger and stronger; in this situation, nobody can make it alone: foresight, compe-
                                       tence and team spirit are needed. At this point a third aspect arises that fits perfectly
                                       with what we pointed out with interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity and their intrin-
                                       sic and fundamental correspondent meanings: the theme of alliance. The personal el-
                                       ement is evidently still essential, but it needs to be put into the framework of reciprocal
                                       relationships and responsibilities that are consolidated in view of shared objectives.


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     What emerges then is the dimension of the “pact”, starting from the so called “Ed-
ucational Global Pact” and the “intergenerational alliance” to which Pope Francis often
refers, in the perspective of “networking” in a wider sense and promoting “an education
that integrates and respects all aspects of the person, uniting studies and everyday
life, teachers, students and their families, and civil society in its intellectual, scientific,
artistic, athletic, political, business and charitable dimensions. An alliance, in other words,
between the earth’s inhabitants and our “common home”, which we are bound to care
for and respect. An alliance that generates peace, justice and hospitality among all
peoples of the human family, as well as dialogue between religions.” (Message for the
Launch of the Global Pact on Education, 12 September 2019).
     The time when everything simply grew almost spontaneously and it was enough
for one to grasp some of the opportunities that the system itself generated, is now
over. On the other hand, to stand united we need authorities that are proactive in
managing power and, for this reason, can open the doors of the future by valorizing
the many existing abilities and acting as an antidote to the recurring self-assertion
and self-referentiality, which are the origin of great conflict. A combination that is
possible only in relation to objectives that are not only instrumental but also shared
and convergent, and therefore able to motivate and overcome these limits and par-
ticular interests.



   3. Digital humanism

    We speak, therefore, about a new humanism, a digital humanism which is the re-
sult of the global impact that digital technologies have on our lives, as well as on art,
and which need to be dealt with from a humanistic and holistic point of view. Matters
which, with the Covid pandemic, have changed from being topics for Academics to
being everybody’s problems.




                                                                                                       CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
    On the inter-disciplinary/trans-disciplinary, human-technologies and expert-tech-
nologies relationship we therefore point out:
   a. One of the cruxes that the pandemic has raised is the impact of the digital
      world on human relationships that have moved from real to virtual: educational
      relationships, work relationships, friendships. How should digital technolo-
      gies be used without them altering our natural essence? It is not only a simplis-
      tic and restrictive contraposition between technophiles and technophobes:
      there is much more.
   b. There is, moreover, “human enhancement”, in other words, overcoming natural
      limits by means of technological instruments, which despite offering wonderful
      opportunities, brings up very serious ethical questions, for which a good and
      strongly enlightened “governance” is needed. But can the rules keep up with
      the same speed as development? A phenomenon, which by definition is global,
      needs international regulations and the right transversal approach.
     From an ethical point of view, there are also a series of implications that arise as a
consequence when such sophisticated technologies cross those natural limits:
     In art. The real and already repeated reproduction of art works, which makes it
difficult to distinguish them from the authentic, poses problems of attribution, with sig-
nificant repercussions, negative effects and consequences from the point of view of
identity as well as from a mercantile-market one.


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                                           In the human being. The attempt to stop making mistakes, which determines losing
                                       the responsibility for the choice we make and/or a superpower, takes advantage of the
                                       “super human”. Consequences that are open and unsettling.


                                           4. Considerations

                                            From the above, it is clear that it is important to maintain our responsibility in decid-
                                       ing how to behave, and that algorithms should not be allowed to become an alternative
                                       and replace our faculties. As for the relationship between the well-known advantages
                                       of technology and the limitation of freedom, clear, set rules are needed. The idea that
                                       is developing is to anticipate the inclusion of ethics in the design of technologies and
                                       regulate them on the basis of ethical principles with the result that any fears connected
                                       to these technologies will put the human being at the centre of attention once again.
                                       It is precisely the concept of “human centric” that is at the base of the regulations on
                                       artificial intelligence proposed by the European Union. In the need for codes, also
                                       remembering how much still needs to be done, we should note that the intelligent ma-
                                       chine-human being relationship has yet to be fully clarified and constructed: as a
                                       matter of fact, only in the last ten to fifteen years has it been possible to produce ma-
                                       chines that come closer to our ability to think and foresee. We need time culturally,
                                       ethically and juridically, in addition to getting used to our coexistence with these tech-
                                       nologies. One of the clear rules is privacy, but it is important that as technological
                                       performance advances, codes are updated at the same time. Technologies will not be
                                       used for everything, they will always be elitist, expensive and complex, and they will be
                                       used only when it is worth it: they are irreplaceable for routine operations and checks,
                                       and they can help us when there is a complex task for which the value added does not
                                       directly involve an ethical choice but, for example, the best one to optimize a process
                                       which however has already been evaluated from an ethical point of view.
                                            In the art sector and, spcifically, in the conservation of artifacts of historical-artistic
                                       interest, monitoring the wellbeing of heritage objects in confined spaces, such as mu-
                                       seums, with the use of electronic instruments which helps maintain thermo-hydromet-
                                       ric parameters constant, as well as regulating the presence of airborne pollutants, is
                                       fundamental.
                                            It is well-known that the control of physical agents and chemical species has posi-
                                       tive consequences in the protection and prevention measures adopted for artifacts in
S. Lorusso, M. Mantovani - Editorial




                                       outdoor environments, in particular, in historical centres. However, this happens in other
                                       sectors too, especially those with a great ecological impact, such as water consumption,
                                       electricity and raw materials or in remote surgery.
                                            These are some emblematic examples that lead us to consider, at the same time,
                                       the correct formation of the experts, the usefulness of advanced technologies and their
                                       beneficial use which contributes to improving human existence, with a positive impact
                                       on the community and on the various forms of social responsibility, and a change that
                                       affects both our internal life, as well as the way of being on the market.




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