International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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Attempts in co-relating the theory of Tree of Life, Taichi Yin-Yang Five Elements Trinity i±1 system, Traditional Chinese Medicine Differential Diagnosis-cure Process, Schemas Theory, Relational science, DSRP theory, Five Aggregates of Human Mind System by Buddha, and Cognitive Process of Consciousness
No full text“Tree of Life” is a term and concept that appeared in different ancient cultures. The one that is being investigated is the Hermetic version of Tree of Life, Qabalah, as illustrated by SpiritScienceCentral.com with 10 spheres or “planes” of creation which are individually called Sephira. General Systems Theories have progressively developed with the aim of understanding the general fundamental components and relationships of knowledge across different disciplines. All theories seem to attempt to lift the boundary of duality between the physical world with precise engineering, and the world of consciousness with fuzzy cognitive processes, and eventually develop different united non-dual systems thinking. The research in this paper has produced a possible set of co-relations among these different systems thinking, by analyzing in a systemic manner, the structure of the components and relationships, and their corresponding properties and transformations. It demonstrates that the study of Tree of Life could be incorporated under the umbrella of General Systems Theories
Establishing an Umbrella Philosophy - Required to Underpin General Systems Unification in a Singular Encompassing Paradigm
No full textAs Strickland & Reveal (John Wiley, 1995) reminded us in “Understanding the Nature of System Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach”, von Bertalanffy in “General System Theory” (Brazillier, 1968) stated that the original aim of GST was ‘to investigate the isomorphy of concepts, laws, and models in various fields, and to help in useful transfers from one field to another.’ From its inception GST/ISSS has advanced that “embracing and ambitious” noble objective of the founders, through conversations, conferences, forums and publications. The encyclopaedic diversity of systems, complexities, organizations and levels of behavioral existence is daunting. Physicists first hinted at the potential for discovering a grand isomorphism, by focusing on the fundamental forces as first place for ‘unification’. That has yet to be accomplished. In the meantime, Sarton, von Bertalanffy, Whorf, Boulding, Miller, Beer, Rapoport, Rosen et al, opened the spectrum of conversations to include biology, ecology, economics, sociology and more, in a grander sensibility. And though there have been great investigations, innovative detailings of specific models and math-described ideas, such as H. Odum “emergy”, R. Rosen “entailments”, D.Hebb “systems of systems”, J Rose “integrity paradigm”, among others, conceptual goals have drifted from trying to identify a single isomorphism, to coping with local comparisons and similarities. A grand convergence seemingly is no longer the centerpiece of the conversation roundtable. The author proposes that it might be beneficial, in order to refresh the vision of GST/ISSS founders, to do a deeper analysis of the philosophy of General System Theory as originally conceived. Such philosophy was not whole-born, but itself had to be a product of how the universe is organized – was encountered – was recognized – and eventually became appreciated – by human minds. There is no intention of replacing the diverse wellspring of prior philosophical ideas and mindsets, but rather to hold true to the goal of identifying a shared seminal behavioral rule of performances among systems, to recognize an improved philosophical embracing frame of reference, as a requisite for isomorphism. An improved essential notion among essentials … rules of performance being the tangible practical aspects, but by better defining the intangible qualities … such as a re-worded 21st century framing of Aristotelian causes, might enable a quantum leap across the impasse chasm that General System (singular) Theory faces. Potential correlation~calibration resting on a seminal principle of requisitely defined association~communication. The author looks to re-open that conversation, in hopefully a new way
ACTIONABLE KNOWLEDGE MAPPING TO ACCELERATE INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS FOR RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
No full textWith increasing calls for interdisciplinary collaboration to solve wicked complex problems there is also increasing clarity around barriers to collaboration such as differences in research methodologies and disciplinary terminologies. This paper uses a Science of Conceptual Systems (SOCS) perspective to show how theories from different disciplines may be synthesized (or integrated, depending on your preferred terminology). Brief case studies are presented to show how knowledge mapping may be used to accelerate actionable scientific understanding, interdisciplinary collaboration, student learning, and practical application leading to increasingly successful and sustainable change for improving the human condition
SYSTEMS THEORY and the METAPHYSICS OF COMPOSITION
No full textIdeas from systems theory – recursive unity and emergent attributes – are applied to the metaphysical and meta-metaphysical debates about the ontological status of composites. These ideas suggest the rejection of both extremes of universalism and nihilism, favoring instead the intermediate position that some composites exist in a non-trivial sense – those having unity and emergent novelty – while others do not. Systems theory is egalitarian: it posits that what exist are systems, equal in their ontological status. Some systems are fundamental, but what exists is not merely the fundamental, and the fundamental is not merely the foundational. The status of composites raises non-trivial issues, but mereology – and metaphysics in general – would benefit from substantive interaction with scientifically interesting questions
Management-led Participative Continuous Process Improvement
No full textContinuous process improvement is one of the foundations for any Lean or Six-Sigma implementation. This typically requires to find and maintain solutions to problems and to achieve this, a precise understanding of the system state is required. Implementing solutions without assessing the system state, can risk the whole Lean or Six Sigma program. Continuous process improvement is exercised at every level of organization with the assist of a variety of tools. Jishuken one of such continuous process improvement tools, which uses cross-organizational and cross-functional teams to tackle a broad range of process improvements (from operational level to strategic level). Jishuken is adept at handling, according to the Cynefin framework, system states where the cause and effect relationship is evident (ordered) and within a unanimous team environment (unitary). However, Jishuken does not offer any guidance to handle system states wherein the cause and effect relationship may not be evident (unordered) and/or the team environment may not be unanimous (pluralistic). This research uses a complementary approach to enhance Jishuken’s capabilities with Cynefin framework. As a result, six system states are proposed, and their accompanying operational definitions are provided. This results in a conceptual model that offers flexibility to Jishuken process practitioners to operate in different system states.
Sea and Life
No full text“It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the threat is rather to life itself.”Rachel Carson, The Sea around Us (1951) The present situation of the sea needs to be considered in a systemic view, connecting not only the environmental aspects with each other, but also relating those with economic and political decisions. There is a need for a world model, and to create consciousness in the population about the importance of the sea; therefore, the importance of including these topics into the educational curriculum, starting from the youngest of the society.The Grupo Mar (in English “Sea Group”) is a research, development and action association, integrated by academics and professionals interested in a systemic approach to the topics related with the sea and its coasts.It is composed by the following institutions:• Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA)• Grupo Argentino de Estudio de Sistemas Integrados (GESI)• Colegio Atlántico del Sur de Mar del Plata (CADS)• Fundación EcoConciencia• Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Regional La Plata (UTN-FRLP)• Academia del Mar (ACMAR)• Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas (FCE-UNPSJB)On June 8th, 2018 – World Oceans Day – the Grupo Mar presented a participatory project at the Puerto Madryn Regional Headquarters of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), the host institution of the event.With focus on the Patagonian coastal communities, the presentation was developed through an interdisciplinary panel and associated conferences. By using this approach, the presentation started showing several aspects of the sea issues, followed by a substantial exchange of ideas conducted to mobilize the interest and sensitivity of the participants, with the goal of reaching through them, a broader community. The purpose was achieved thanks to the participant's (mostly professionals, academics and students) involvement and their request to provide continuity to the discussions through a dialogue forum such as the one described in this paper
System Thinking for Global Political Citizenship Education
No full textHumans are political animals but need to be better ones, because like all other animals, indeed all life forms, they are connected, through their various social systems of all types and at all levels, more closely than ever before with a planet’s subsystems increasingly interlocking in a global system. Their role as political animals is crucial because politics remains the authoritative distribution of values. In a global society lacking an equivalent world government, humans are everywhere performing political activities on different levels, from households to villages, from cities to provinces, from states to suprastate entities, from individual economic transactions to membership in organizations interacting with other organizations, that, in the context of globalization, cannot help affecting the lives of others around the world. Because all political decisions matter, it is necessary in constructing a global society as a system for humans to cultivate their political citizenships, and for others to help them understand what the needs of a sustainable future for the earth require them to take into consideration in their political choices from the perspective of system theory
Systemic Innovation in a World of Uncertainty
No full textSystemic Innovation is a field of praxis that is rapidly taking shape as a key driver in R&D initiatives focused on integral sustainability the world over. This field curates the exploration of socio-technical systems design, implementation and insertion in society in ways that foster planetary thrivability at local and global (aka ‘glocal’) levels. To do so, it adopts a transformative approach to characteristically “wicked” societal problems through the transdisciplinary study of ways in which pragmatic socio-technical systems innovation can dissolve VUCA challenges (i.e., those that are characteristically volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous). This paper explores how insights from the systems sciences can directly influence real-world socio-technical systems change. By considering both the systemic leverage points and systemic nurturance spaces that foster the emergence of innovations for thrivability, the field of systemic innovation is developing new methods, models and means of emerging ecosystems of R&D+i (research and development plus innovation). Results include the generation of socio-technical solutions that are synergetic with each other (thereby forming collective incubators or innovation greenhouses based on the application of collective intelligence). The emergence of such innovation ecosystems requires leadership and systemic innovation that incorporates social values, technological creativity, economic opportunity and environmental integrity. This paper considers themes of innovation, leadership, connective intelligence, collective intelligence, collective creativity, design thinking, systems practice, entrepreneurial experimentation and other considerations related to the emerging field of leadership and systemic innovation
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND COMPETITIVENESS IN SMART TOURISM DESTINATIONS: A SYSTEMIC PERSPECTIVE
No full textThe development of smart cities is considered an alternative to face urban problems; one of them is the growth of population with disabilities and senior citizens, which will lead to sustainability issues particularly those dealing with services and infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for innovation in the tourism sector, considering the Triple Helix model to achieve competitiveness in urban tourism destinations.This research presents a literature review of the smart cities characteristics, challenges, and opportunities that bring technological development in social inclusion. The Soft Systems Methodology is applied to show how the smart tourism destination can be modeled. This review shows that smart cities can make more competitive and inclusive the tourism destinations, considering the cultural, economic, politic and social context and how the Triple Helix model of innovation is capable of building strategies and public politics that bring social inclusion for people with disabilities and senior citizens, making the city a more competitive destination
Time Has Gone Today
No full textTime is the penultimate problem in philosophy. The meaning of Time that can be given by current Astrophysics is superficial at best. After Gödel, it can be argued that any science based on the sensorium has profound metaphysical issues. Since Mathematics must be employed in present cosmogony, the longstanding issues surrounding what mathematical truths and numbers are, and where they exist, does little to deliver meaning to Time. In Philosophy, many have elaborated their philosophy of Time and some have addressed the significant impact of the future in those discussions.The problem of evil, or theodicy, is thought to be the most difficult problem in philosophy. This essay proposes to coalesce the problems of Time and Theodicy.The predominate linear view of time obfuscates our understanding of time as well as the implications of the problems of evil. The Platonic concept of anamnesis as the primacy of Time is adapted here. We are already complete but we unfurl in Time because we have forgotten how we created ourselves. Time is the record of our moments, our deeds; what we have volitionally done. Omniscience knows this; we forgot and now live that forgetfulness. A Book of Life is written, we cannot recall our page number