Review of Weigand (2026): Principles of New Science. Dialogue in the stream of life

Abstract This review article critically examines Edda Weigand’s New Science (2026), which reconceptualises scientific inquiry as a science of complexity grounded in human competence-in-performance and dialogic action “in the stream of life”. Moving beyond traditional method-driven models, Weigand proposes a shift from certainty and rule-governed abstraction towards the dynamic interplay of human abilities, purpose, and interaction. The review situates this approach within broader debates in the philosophy of science and dialogue studies, particularly in relation to Kuhn, Popper, and complexity theory. It discusses key concepts including competence-in-performance, dialogicity, and the hierarchical structure of meaning, arguing that Weigand’s framework offers an original contribution to dialogue-oriented linguistics and to rethinking the relationship between language, action, and scientific inquiry.