The Realist Complexity between Causal and Complex Systems (IACR) conference took place at the International Institute of Social Studies from 8-12 August 2022. It included four keynote speeches, over 40 presentations by critical realists of their current work, and extensive informal discussions.
The conference took place against the background of previous attempts that have coalesced critical realism and complexity under the rubric of ‘complex realism’. This year’s conference aimed to clarify the ways in which critical realism & complexity theory can inform each other. Furthermore, the goal was to examine the limitations of ‘complex realism’.
The animated debate amongst critical realist scholars on complexity theory thus raised many questions. Some of the following questions were addressed during the 2022 IACR Conference:
- Does realist ontology refer to the ontological dimension of complexity? Or does it entail a commitment to ontological complexity? What is the difference?
- What kind(s) of causality is (are) envisaged under realist complexity? What kind of open system is envisaged under realist complexity? Is there a need for a system? What is a system?
- What is systemic causality?
