In an interview published in the previous issue of the “Logistyka” magazine, Prof. Lech Bukowski presented important information regarding the science of logistics. The decision as to whether logistics can be considered a science must be made by a competent body that will enter the new scientific discipline into the appropriate classification. If so, such a decision must be made as soon as possible. And not because someone else might be first, because whoever could, has already done so long ago, and not just beyond our western borders.
Currently, under the aegis of the “Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals“, the 19th doctoral seminar is being prepared, which will take place on the eve of the annual CSCMP global conference in Chicago on September 21, 2009. The doctoral theses presented are to concern issues related to “supply chain management”. Various universities can nominate two candidates each to participate in this seminar. Young doctoral students can present their achievements there, which may result in a doctoral degree in the future. A guarantee that this will be in accordance with the rules of science is provided by the members of the association who will review the presented works.
In the history of human knowledge, this is nothing new. The so-called “thing-in-itself” will forever remain hidden and inaccessible to human cognitive tools, and yet we use things every day, and the fact that they are unknowable does not pose any problem. It is similar with logistics. As before, it will be an area of very important human activity. However, that to which successes and failures in the scope of providing people with what they need are attributed – as “logistics in itself” – will remain forever outside of any science. It may take the form of a “supply chain”, “value chain” or perhaps a “value network”, as well as other forms of logistics activities about which it is difficult to say anything today. It will depend on how one person reacts to what another person lacks and takes action to fill that void. Whatever they do, however, only when the recipient of these actions deems them good, will it be possible to say that another realization of logistics has been created.
Establishing logistics as a science will not change this, because no one – not even science – can decide what is good for a specific person. Immanuel Kant discovered – and no one disputes this, or at most they forget about it – that the recognition of good is a decree of reason, not subject to any considerations or speculations. A person knows what is good for them, and that is that. No one can replace them in this, nor can they impose their decision on them in this matter. Therefore, it cannot be subject to scientific research or rational inference. Building an edifice of science on such a thing would be like building on sand. It would be an edifice based on a foundation of assumption, opinion, illusion, or some other mirage. It would be undertaking the Sisyphus task of creating a science about something that, by definition, cannot be scientific.
How, then, to reconcile the complete “non-scientific nature” of the issue of providing goods with attempts to award scientific degrees for researching this issue? That, in some countries, is simple. It is enough to properly formulate the subject of research and apply appropriate research methods. Whether such an action falls within the framework of science can be decided by other scientists at their own responsibility. They can also gather followers and students around them, to whom they will award diplomas with the title of “logisticians”. In such countries, scientists are in a better situation in that they do not have to agree on this with any ministry, or government commission or committee. Especially since the criterion of whether something is a science is of little importance. What is important is whether there are those willing to learn it or devote time to developing related research issues.
The article comes from the “Logistyka” magazine 3/2009.