Science as Systemic Intervention: Some Implications of Systems Thinking and Complexity for the Philosophy of Science

This paper sidesteps the usual starting points for debate about complexity and the philosophy of science, which tend to assume that science is primarily about observation. Instead, the starting point is intervention, defined as purposeful action by an agent to create change. While some authors suggest that intervention and observation are opposites, it is argued here that observation (as undertaken in science) should be viewed as just one type of intervention. We should therefore welcome scientific techniques of observation into a pluralistic set of intervention methods, alongside methods for exploring values, reflecting on subjective understandings, planning future activities, etc. However, there is a need to explicitly counter a possible pernicious interpretation of this argument: intervention could (erroneously) be viewed as flawlessly preplanned change based on accurate predictions of the consequences of action. This is the mechanistic worldview that systems thinking and complexity science seek to challenge. Therefore, having redefined scientific observation as intervention, the paper revisits insights from systems thinking and complexity to propose a methodology of systemic intervention. Some brief reflections are then provided on the wider social implications of this methodology.     

新议系统科学与科技发展的互动

系统科学与科学技术发展之间存在着严密的互动关系。从层次转化定律的丰富、系统自组织思维的完善、技术创新的系统论指引、科学技术发展的系统辩证思考等新角度来阐明系统科学与科学技术发展的相互作用。     

发展社会系统工程,加速构建和谐社会

和谐社会应当具备的必要条件已经十分明确。通过何种途径和如何选择捷径以构建和谐社会，即构建和谐社会的充分条件是什么？惟有发展社会系统工程才是不二法门。     

The Acceptance and Progress in Argentina of Multi-Modal Systems Thinking for Community Development

This article describes the acceptance and development of multi-modal systems thinking in Argentina in the last 5 years, both in theory and in practice. On the theoretical side, we show the efforts made to provide compatible epistemological doctrines for different modalities, starting with ethics and aesthetics. This took place first through the phenomenology of values and more recently in the context of Christian existentialism and continuing later on with the study of the relationship among other modalities. On the practical side, we describe the applications of this framework to study the so-called “crisis of the Argentine countryside”. This is a conflict between the community of farmers, the national government and the present situation with cattle producers. Other applications include a programme to teach action-research and projects related to abandoned children and education in indigenous communities.     

Sustainable Community Development: A Brief Introduction to the Multi-Modal Systems Method

There is still no agreement on the concept of sustainable development but, what was initially only seen as an equation of economic growth and protection of environment resources, has now began to include several other dimensions, such as the social, cultural, ethical, legal and political. However, this requires a scientific perspective capable of dealing with ethical and normative questions. The Multi-Modal Systems Method intends to tackle the sustainable issue in a total manner, based on a trans-disciplinary approach and on a method that makes possible practical applications in empirical contexts. This article presents an introduction to this method in the context of the sustainable development of communities.     

A Limit to Our Thinking and Some Unanticipated Moral Consequences: A Science of Conceptual Systems Perspective with Some Potential Solutions

One paradox of modern society is the widespread use of highly complex mechanisms of economic and social self-regulation which produce a large number of unintended and often undesirable side-effects. Human conceptual systems (theories, policies, and mental models which support our thinking) are good enough to keep the self-regulatory mechanisms in operation; yet they are not good enough to prevent and control the undesirable contingencies. Systems thinking, and complexity science are growing in their usefulness for understanding our social systems as well as our conceptual systems. The present paper examines and explains this paradox by combining the ideas from the burgeoning science of conceptual systems and Niklas Luhmann’s social systems theory. Drawing on Luhmann’s argument that social systems build up their internal complexity by disregarding the complexity of the environment, we propose to differentiate between those conceptual systems that reflect the intra-systemic complexity of simpler systems and those that reflect the intra-systemic complexity of sub-systems in combination with systems of systems to include the environmental complexity. Thus it comes about that the former conceptual systems, exemplified by physics, are much more effective and successful than the latter ones, often corresponding to social sciences. The chasm between the qualities of these systems can be overcome by using the tools of Integrative Propositional Analysis.     

系统科学、复杂性科学与复杂系统科学哲学

以整体性为指导范式的系统科学与复杂性科学转变了人们的思维方式,作为二者的延伸与拓展,复杂系统科学哲学这一研究领域逐渐引起了科学哲学家们的密切关注。沿着历史发展的角度,梳理系统科学形成和发展的三条进路、清晰复杂性科学的兴起,有助于看清复杂系统科学哲学的未来走向。     

复杂性与社会系统--卢曼思想研究

在三个层面上揭示了卢曼理解的社会复杂性概念的含义 :旨意层面、社会结构层面与功能分化层面。由于科学的任务在于理解和还原复杂性 ,而科学在至今占主导地位的本体论的认识论指导下无法满足这一要求 ,卢曼提出了他的差异论的认识论根据。在这一认识论的视景中 ,人类的实践活动以及科学研究本身被理解为建构系统的活动 ,而建构系统的活动又被界定为设定和标示差异的活动     

论“系统科学”与“复杂性科学”之异同

“系统科学”不同于“复杂性科学”,但由于其兴起背景和演化发展过程、研究对象以及指导范式等因素上的相近性,它们实质上又是相互融合的,是易于混淆的两种提法。对它们进行细致的区分是进一步了解系统科学与系统哲学研究领域的必要过程。     

Journal of Systems Science and Complexity Information for Authors

Journal of Systems Science and Complexity (JSSC) is a quarterly journal distributed internationally, seeking to publish high-quality papers on theories, methodologies and applications of systems science and complexity science. It focuses on systems theory, systems engineering, systems control, systems modeling and statistics, systems management, intelligent systems, complex systems, and complexity science for the best benefit of the scientific community in systems science, and for a promotion of developments in the emerging complexity science.     

探讨复杂系统中的群体结构

为探讨恰当划分复杂系统群体蛄构的新方法，提出了改进边介数法。在对网络实例空手道俱乐部的研究中，将谊方法与传统社会学聚类方法和GN算法进行了对照比较。其实证结果表明了谊方法对于正确分析系统的群体结构的有效性。     

当前我国管理科学与社会经济系统工程领域的热点和焦点

近几年我国经济／管理科学界正以承先启后、推陈出新的时代特征向经济／管理系统工程的特定领域发展。了解我国当前在发展经济／管理科学与工程中的若干热点有助于进一步开拓社会经济／管理系统工程的广阔空间。如果能在此基础上探讨我国当前在社会经济和管理中一些值得系统科学工作者为之苦心孤诣出谋划策的焦点，也许更能体现联系实际。本文拟对此综合地、提纲挈领地加以讨论。     

论城市社区发展的系统观

从系统理论观点出发，将社区作为社会大系统中的子系统，论述了城市社区发展与社区系统的整体优化、社区发展与社区结构功能的耦合、社区发展与社区内部调节机制的关系。探讨了我国城市社区发展存在和亟待解决的问题。     

Journal of Systems Science and Complexity

<正>Aims and Scope Journal of Systems Science and Complexity(JSSC)is a bimonthly journal to publish high-quality original and innovative papers on theories,methodologies and applications of systems science and complexity science,as well as insifghtful survey papers.It aims to encourage fundamental research of complex systems and complexity,and cultivate cross-disciplinary approaches to help people to understand the common themes that arise in     

Journal of Systems Science and Complexity

<正>Aims and Scope Journal of Systems Science and Complexity(JSSC) is a bimonthly journal to publish high-quality original and innovative papers on theories, methodologies and applications of systems science and complexity science, as well as insightful survey papers. It aims to encourage fundamental research of complex systems and complexity, and cultivate cross-disciplinary approaches to help people to understand the common themes that arise in     

Journal of Systems Science and Complexity

<正>Aims and Scope Journal of Systems Science and Complexity (JSSC) is a bimonthly journal to publish high-quality original and innovative papers on theories, methodologies and applications of systems science and complexity science, as well as insightful survey papers. It aims to encourage fundamental research of complex systems and complexity,and cultivate cross-disciplinary approaches to help people to understand the common themes that arise in natural, artificial, and social systems. It covers related complexity issues that have been placed at the forefront of     

Journal of Systems Science and Complexity

<正>Aims and Scope Journal of Systems Science and Complexity(JSSC)is a bimonthly journal to publish high-quality original and innovative papers on theories,methodologies and applications of systems science and complexity science,as well as insightful survey papers.It aims to encourage fundamental research of complex systems and complexity,     

Journal of Systems Science and Information

正Aims and Scope Journal of Systems Science and Information(JSSI) is a peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary journal that focuses on systems science and systems engineering, management science, and information science. This journal aims to provide a platform for sharing new developments in the research fields of systems science and management science and promotes applications of these cutting-edge theories and methods to real world. Topics covered by this journal include but not limited to the following list: