Liam Greenacre

Profile

I am a transdisciplinary researcher and generalist who likes to engage with theoretical, methodological and philosophical issues in Sociology and beyond. I have a BA in History and a MA in Medieval Studies from the University of York.

I joined the School of Sociology and Social Policy in February 2023 with my project focusing on a ‘A Transdisciplinary Perspective on the Realist and Constructivist Debate.’

Research interests

My research is concerned with ontology (the nature of existence and being) and how this affects epistemic and methodological issues in Sociology. Theoretical and philosophical debates in Sociology have tended to focus around whether reality is constructed or real- with numerous potential solutions. These, in turn, have affected the methods we use to study society (e.g. phenomenology, realist synthesis) and also the individuals and groups we assign knowledge to. My research aims to examine this issue of ontology while placing it in the context of its epistemological and methodological consequences.

 As a transdisciplinary researcher, I look at and integrate points of view from a variety of disciplines and vantage points with the aim of providing as broad and complete account as possible. I study topics that go across the faculties, with the belief that only when disciplines engage in constructive and creative dialogue can we hope to address fundamental sociological and philosophical issues.  My research aims to gather knowledge from three main sources:

1. Academic Literature- spanning across the sciences, social sciences and humanities.
2. Art works- such as painting, theatre, films, literature and video games.
3. Knowledge produced outside academia- gathered through interviews.

At the core of my research, is the belief that generalists are just as needed as much as experts, as such I aim to span disciplines as much as possible. Breadth and depth are equally critical if we are to gain an understanding of the nature of social reality. As a generalist, I have an eclectic range of research interests including:

• The theory and practice of transdisciplinarity.
• Metaphysics, especially ontology and its relationship to Sociology
• The history of Late Antiquity.
• Network theory and analysis.
• Quantum Mechanics.

I blog about my interests at https://philosophicalostrogoth.home.blog/.

Conference Presentations

Greenacre, Liam. (2023). ‘Transdisciplinarity and its Ontology of Liminality’, World Futures Studies Federation XXV World Conference, 50^th Anniversary Celebration; Exploring Liminalities: Creating Spaces for Unlimited Futures. École des Ponts Business School, Paris. 23rd-27^th October.

Greenacre, Liam. (2023). ‘Enhancing Transdisciplinary Processes through Quantum Mechanical Heuristics’, Science and Sensibility: A Transdisciplinary Conference. London Arts-Based Research Centre (Online presentation). 22nd-24^th September.

Greenacre, Liam. (2023). ‘Generality and Generalisation in Transdisciplinary Social Science’, Eighteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences- Agency in  an Era of Displacement and Social Change. Oxford Brookes University. 19^th July- 21^st  July. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WET4Z2PiUXk 

Greenacre, Liam. (2023). ‘A Hypothetical Charter for a Radical Transdisciplinary Journal’, Pedagogies for New Times- An International In-Person Conference on challenges, innovations, and opportunities in Higher Education Practices. University of Leeds. 23^rd June- 24th June. 

Conference Sessions Moderated

Greenacre, Liam (2023). ‘Capturing the Future: Photography and Technology in Dialogue’ Science and Sensibility: A Transdisciplinary Conference. London Arts-Based Research Centre (Online moderation). 22nd- 24^th September.

Greenacre, Liam (2023). ‘Unveiling the Unconcious: Creative Approaches to Dreamwork, Autobiography and Synchronicity in Psychotherapy and Writing’ Science and Sensibility: A Transdisciplinary Conference. London Arts-Based Research Centre (Online moderation). 22nd- 24^th September.

Qualifications

• MA Medieval Studies- University of York
• BA History- University of York