Liberating Systems Theory / Edition 1

by Robert L. Flood

Overview

Contemporary Systems Thinking is a series of texts, each of which deals comparatively and/or critically with different aspects of holistic thinking at the frontiers of the discipline. Traditionally, writings by systems thinkers have been concerned with single theme propositions such as General Systems Theory, Cybernetics, Operations Research, System Dynamics, Soft Systems Methodology and many others. Recently there have been attempts to fulfil a different yet equally important role by comparative analyses of viewpoints and approaches, each addressing disparate areas of study such as: modeling and simulation, measurement, management, 'problem solving' methods, international relations, social theory and last, but not exhaustively or least, philosophy. In a recent book these were drawn together within a multiform framework as part of an eclectic discussion -a nearly impossible task as I discovered (see Dealing With Complexity -An Introduction to the Theory and Application of Systems Science, R. L. Flood and E. R. Carson, Plenum, New York, 1988). Nevertheless, bringing many sources together led to several achievements, among which was showing a great diversity of approaches, ideas and application areas that systems thinking contributes to (although often with difficulties remaining unresolved). More important, however, while working on that manuscript I became aware of the need for and potential value in a series of books, each focusing in detail on the study areas mentioned above.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306435928
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	08/31/1990
Series:	Contemporary Systems Thinking
Edition description:	1990
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.36(d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- Start of Argument.- 2 Liberating Systems Theory.- 3 Interpretive Analytics and Knowledge-Constitutive Interests: Liberate and Critique.- 4 On ‘System’: Conceptual Anti-Reflexivity (Strand 1).- 5 On ‘System’: Abstract and Paradigmatic Conceptions (Strand 2).- 6 On ‘System’: Histories and Progressions Of Systems Thinking (Strand 3).- 7 On ‘Inquiry’: Systems ‘Problem Solving’ (Strand 4).- End of Argument.- 8 A Beginning.- Terms and Concepts: Some Critical Observations.- Appendix:.- A Practical Face to Liberating Systems Theory.- References.

Editorial Reviews

An epistemological argument anchored immediately in the history and nature of systems thinking, but more generally addressing issues in the various contentions of positivism, structuralism, interpretivism and critical theory. The title refers not only to the liberation of theory but also to the theory of liberation. A glossary of terms and concepts provides a bit of a guide through the difficult terrain of contemporary metaphysics. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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