ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a specific characterization of complexity of complex social problems. It supports the insight that fair and effective governance is initially not a matter of proper organization, but essentially that of a fair dealing with its complexity. The complexity of a complex social problem, such as combating climate change, the provision of affordable access to healthy food for all, or evaluation of the possible use of nuclear energy, may in this sense be described with seven characteristics. The need to tackle the problems listed above is clear, even so as the picture of the world we want: we envision a world free from poverty and conflict and in which humans live in a healthy relation with their natural environment. The strength of utilitarian, Kantian and social contract theories is that they give a way of conceptualizing the intuition that all human beings are worthy of equal respect and concern.
