On Purposeful Systems: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Individual and Social Behavior as a System of Purposeful Events

by Fred Emery (Editor)

Overview

This book provides an innovative foundation for looking at human and social behavior u as a system of purposeful (teleological) events. It uses a systems theoretical approach for the study of these phenomena, and illustrates and extends general systems theory.

Part One develops the concepts of traditional mechanism from which, successively, the concepts of "function," "choice," "goal-seeking," and "purposefulness" are derived, leading to a quantitative formulation of "personality". Part Two provides an analysis of aspects of purposeful behavior and personality, and Part Three explores the interaction of purposeful systems. Part Four is concerned with the study of social groups and ideal-seeking behavior. Finally, structural concepts underpinning the theoretical system are redefined in technological terms, thus demonstrating the non-vicious circularity and interdependence of all scientific concepts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780202307985
Publisher:	Transaction Publishers
Publication date:	01/07/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

AldineTransaction Introduction, Preface, I. Foundations, 1. On Human Behavior as a System, 2. Structure, Function, and Purpose, 3. The Individuality of Psychological Systems, II. The Process of Pursuing Purposes, 4. Generation of Inputs: Perception, Consciousness, and Memory, 5. Modeling the Situation: Beliefs, 6. Evaluating the Situation: Feelings and Attitudes, 7. Formulation and Evaluation of Choices: Thought and Intuition, 8. Purposeful Systems and their Environments, III. Interactions of Purposeful Systems, 9. Feelings and Communication, 10. Signs, Messages, and Language, 11. Models of Communication, 12. Conflict, Cooperation, and Competition, IV. Social Systems and Beyond, 13. Social Groups as Systems, 14. Ideal-Seeking Systems, 15. Epilogue: Rounding the Conceptual Circle, Appendix I, Appendix II, Appendix III, Name Index, Subject Index

Editorial Reviews

"What makes this book "magical" is that Ackoff provides "operational definitions" for many ill-defined words and concepts—from defining "knowledge" and "understanding" to providing definitions of feelings/emotions.... In terms of Kuhn's idea of "paradigm shifts"—this book represents a shift that has yet to be appreciated, thirty years later." —W. Curtiss Priest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

From the Publisher