New paper proposes flourishing-based risk science for complex systems

A research team led by Ryan M. McGranaghan has published a paper on arXiv titled 'From risk to flourishing: Seeds for responding to a complex world.' The paper challenges the traditional risk science focus on reduction and specialization, arguing instead for a paradigm shift toward 'flourishing'—defined as the actualization of all beings toward their good, both individually and collectively. The authors propose a dialectical approach that holds opposing concepts (e.g., physical vs. social, determinism vs. uncertainty, contextuality vs. generality) in productive tension.

By reframing these tensions through the lens of complexity science, the paper identifies six provisional 'seeds' for a new complex risk science: interdependence, responsivity, participation, pluralism, openness, and ongoingness. These seeds are meant to guide research and practice toward more resilient system responses. The authors emphasize that enacting this paradigm requires building collectives, skillfully governed commons, and centering care in research. This is not a product launch but a foundational rethink of how risk science can serve society in an interconnected world.