Boundary

= = =**Boundary**=

Limitations of Definition
For the purposes of Productive Theory, the following definition was appropriated and adapted from Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) to specifically address the conflation of theoretical stance and metaphors for physical space.

When a speaker inhabits a specific theoretical position, he not only identifies placement in a system that favors particular values and observations, but he is also defining the limit, or boundary of this particular system.

Ulrich describes the purpose of Boundary Judgments as determining “which empirical observations and value considerations count as relevant and which others are left out or considered less important (2)”

Definition
Boundary describes the limitation of a theoretical stance, position, or lens. The affordances, values, and concerns of a particular theoretical stance exist inside of the boundary, while values and perspectives on the subject that originate from other theoretical stances exist outside of the boundary.

Ulrich, Werner. A Brief Introduction to Critical Systems Heuristics. ECOSENSUS project website. The Open University (2005) http://projects.kmi.open.ac.uk/ecosensus/publications/ulrich_csh_intro.pdf