Just an excuse to capture some images old and new that attempt to describe the field of interest.
In response to this summary diagram on LinkedIn, clearly focussing on their own “Systems Innovation” (yuk) branding …
Dave Snowden responded with this older but much more complex and comprehensive version “not without controversy” …
Frankly, I’m not concerned with branding of any particular solutions, methods or frameworks, and have always been happy to refer to the whole field as “Systems Thinking” or “Cybernetics” and accept that it has evolved and grown over time. However we choose to represent which things in which boxes or which arrows, it’s about understanding the scope of relations that comprise the whole.
Mentioned several times here battles between those that want to focus (or not) on either Systems or Complexity (or not) and specifically Science(s) (rarely not) but again frankly I really don’t care so long as whichever terms we prefer, we mean “Complex Adaptive / Living / Anthro Systems” and understand that all interesting (real human / eco) systems are complex, and that any thinking and acting in such cases is #MoreThanScience.
My only Psybertron nod to branding has been to emphasise the individual and collective human psyche involved and to suggest the Psybernetics spelling of the originally intended Cybernetics. It’s all the same to me so long as we never forget we’re talking about the complex (humanity & ecosystem) whole.
And also even today Gary Smith sharing this “holistic” version ….
Illustrates our holarchy in a very meaningful way. Self, relationships to others, in context of the greater whole. Maps nicely to Fit, Form and Function (engineering heuristics that relates parts towards the wider system) and William Smith‘s Appreciation, Influence and Control.
Starting from “self-authorship” is interesting – very much the writing of our individual narratives in the wider cultural narrative. A turn-off to those clinging to objective science, but very much Al MacIntyre’s “After Virtue” metaphysics. (Previous post – It’s not all written.)
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