La investigacion en las sociedades modernas, tambien denominadas sociedades de la informacion y/o del conocimiento, juega un papel fundamental como puntal del desarrollo y del progreso economico, cientifico, tecnologico y social de los paises. En este articulo derivado de investigacion, se examina la investigacion en Colombia teniendo en cuenta el planteamiento de bucles desde el referente epistemologico del pensamiento complejo. Metodologicamente, se analizan los postulados que aparecen en la normatividad colombiana (teniendo en cuenta las disposiciones supraestatales), considerando los retos que imponen las Tecnologias de la Informacion y la Comunicacion (TIC) a la luz de la crisis contemporanea del humanismo. Se hallo que en Colombia el conocimiento se gestiona prioritariamente en torno de aquello que implica o significa mayor ganancia y progreso, en desmedro de la funcion social de todo conocimiento y que existen cuatro retos que deben afrontar las IES colombianas respecto a la investigacion: sociales; TIC; economicos; calidad y certificacion de programas. Se concluye que las IES deben revisar los soportes epistemicos que sustentan sus procesos investigativos con el fin de contemplar los cuatro fines que demanda el contexto colombiano en funcion de la superacion o de la busqueda de alternativas a la crisis del humanismo. ABSTRACT Research in modern societies, also known as societies of information and/or knowledge, plays a fundamental role as pillar of development and of economic, scientific, technological and social progress of the countries. In this article derived from research, research in Colombia is examined taking into account the approach of loops from the epistemological referent of complex thinking. Methodologically, the principles that appear in the Colombian regulations are analyzed (taking into account the supranational provisions), considering the challenges imposed by the technologies of information and communication technology (ICT) in the light of the contemporary crisis of humanism. It was found that in Colombia the knowledge is primarily managed around that implies or means higher profit and progress, to the detriment of the social function of all and that there are four challenges faced by the Colombian Higher Education Institurions (HEI) regarding research: social; ICT; economic; quality and certification of programs. It was concluded that the HEI should review brackets epistemic underpinning its investigative processes in order to contemplate the four goals that demand the Colombian context according to the improvement or the search for alternatives to the crisis of humanism.