Michael Lissack Challenges Scientific Assumptions and AI Ethics in New Book Questioning Understanding

Michael Lissack’s “Questioning Understanding”: Rethinking Scientific Inquiry and AI Ethics

"Understanding is not a destination we reach, but a spiral we climb—each new question changes the view, and each new view reveals questions we couldn't see before."

Michael Lissack, Executive Director of the Second Order Science Foundation and professor at Tongji University, presents a fresh look at how we approach scientific inquiry in his new book, Questioning Understanding. The book challenges readers to critically examine the assumptions that shape the way we interpret and engage with scientific knowledge.

A New Lens on Scientific Inquiry

Questioning Understanding introduces the framework of second-order science. This approach focuses on uncovering UnCritically Examined Presuppositions (UCEPs) embedded in scientific methods—assumptions that often go unnoticed but shape what can be observed and understood. Lissack argues that critically engaging with these presuppositions allows for a more thorough examination of scientific processes and their limitations.

The book’s unique tête-bêche format invites readers to start either with “Questioning → Understanding” or “Understanding → Questioning.” This dual-entry structure highlights the interplay between inquiry and knowledge, emphasizing that scientific progress is a continuous cycle of reassessing assumptions and refining perspectives.

Addressing the Rise of Sloppy Science

The urgency of Lissack’s work became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by what he terms “slodderwetenschap” or “sloppy science.” This phenomenon involves shortcuts, oversimplifications, and the spread of “truthies”—claims accepted based on feeling rather than evidence.

Alongside Brenden Meagher, Lissack identified how sloppy science erodes public trust through what they call the “3Ts”: Truthies, TL;DR (oversimplification), and TCUSI (taking complex understanding for simple information). Their research showed that during the pandemic, these factors contributed to biased attention, confirmation bias, and confusion between surface-level information and deeper analysis.

“Good science demands that we ask what gives meaning to facts, labels, or narratives, and base further inquiry on those revealed assumptions and contexts,” Lissack explains.

AI: A Critical Frontier in Scientific Research

With AI tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) increasingly integrated into research, Lissack’s insights are particularly timely. His book stresses the need for a responsible approach to AI in science, one that treats these technologies as collaborative partners rather than shortcuts.

“AI can support and challenge scientific inquiry depending on how it’s used,” Lissack says. “Researchers must remain critically engaged with AI outputs, questioning the assumptions embedded in these systems.” While AI can accelerate data analysis and hypothesis generation, human oversight remains essential to maintain the rigor and integrity of scientific work.

Influence and Recognition

With over 2,130 citations on Google Scholar, Lissack’s work influences a range of disciplines, from cybernetics to AI ethics. His ideas encourage researchers to reflect on how knowledge is created and applied.

He has received notable recognition, including being named one of “Wall Street’s 25 Smartest Players” by Worth Magazine and listed among “100 Americans Who Most Influenced How We Think About Money.” Beyond accolades, Lissack advocates for a research culture grounded in integrity, critical thinking, and ethical foresight, especially as emerging technologies reshape scientific practice.

About Questioning Understanding

The book’s tête-bêche design—with two covers and no fixed starting point—symbolizes the fluid, recursive nature of inquiry and insight. As Lissack puts it, “If understanding is a river, questions shape the canyon the river flows in.”

This work promotes “reflexive scientific practice,” where science consciously examines its own assumptions. By doing so, it opens the door to uncovering hidden constraints and expanding what can be explored and understood.

About Michael Lissack

• Executive Director of the Second Order Science Foundation
• Professor of Design and Innovation at Tongji University, Shanghai
• Former President of the American Society for Cybernetics
• Developer of the UnCritically Examined Presuppositions (UCEPs) framework

Lissack’s UCEPs framework identifies nine key dimensions—such as context dependence and quantitative indexicality—that act as enabling constraints in scientific inquiry. These hidden assumptions both make scientific work possible and limit what can be observed or understood. Second-order science examines how variations in these dimensions influence scientific claims.

His books are available at major retailers. Learn more about his work at lissack.com and the Second Order Science Foundation at secondorderscience.org.