This document summarizes a chapter from a dissertation on complexity theory and its application to educational research. It discusses how complexity theory challenges traditional positivist assumptions and could enable a new science of qualities that complements existing quantitative research. It also outlines how complexity theory views learning communities as complex adaptive systems and examines the conditions under which phase transitions occur in such systems.
Mike C Jackson and Postmodern systems thinking by Mohammad Ali JaafarMohammad Ali Jaafar
Postmodern systems approach aims to help managers improve organizations by promoting diversity. Postmodernists would classify all of the various systems approaches considered so far, whether their aim is to improve goal seeking and viability, to explore purposes, or to ensure fairness, as being ‘modernist’ in character.
Wolfgang Hofkirchner: Facing complexity - General System TheoryJosé Nafría
Ponencia del curso: "Pensamiento Sistémico Abierto: en la encrucijada de un mundo complejo"
International Workshop: "Open System Thinking: at the crossroad of a complex world"
Universidad de León, Sierra Pambley, Mayo de 2013
The imitation faculty in monkeys: Evaluating its features, distribution and e...Francys Subiaul
Despite more than 100 years of research, there is no agreement among experts as to whether or not monkeys can imitate. Part of the problem is that there is little agreement as to what constitutes an example of ‘imitation.’ Nevertheless, recent research provides compelling evidence for both continuities and discontinuities in the psychological faculty that mediates imitation performance. A number of studies have shown that monkeys are capable of copying familiar responses but not novel responses that require the use of tools, for example. And, while these studies have been interpreted to mean that monkeys cannot engage in ‘imitation learning’ or novel imitation, research employing a cognitive imitation paradigm—where rhesus monkeys had to copy novel serial rules pertaining to the order of pictures, independently of copying specific motor responses—has provided convincing evidence of novel imitation in monkeys. Rather than suggesting that monkeys are poor imitators, these results suggest that monkeys can learn novel cognitive rules but not novel motor rules, possibly because such skills require derived neural specializations mediating fine and gross motor movements; If true, such evidence represents an important discontinuity between the imitation skills of monkeys and apes with significant implications for human cognitive evolution.
Mike C Jackson and Postmodern systems thinking by Mohammad Ali JaafarMohammad Ali Jaafar
Postmodern systems approach aims to help managers improve organizations by promoting diversity. Postmodernists would classify all of the various systems approaches considered so far, whether their aim is to improve goal seeking and viability, to explore purposes, or to ensure fairness, as being ‘modernist’ in character.
Wolfgang Hofkirchner: Facing complexity - General System TheoryJosé Nafría
Ponencia del curso: "Pensamiento Sistémico Abierto: en la encrucijada de un mundo complejo"
International Workshop: "Open System Thinking: at the crossroad of a complex world"
Universidad de León, Sierra Pambley, Mayo de 2013
The imitation faculty in monkeys: Evaluating its features, distribution and e...Francys Subiaul
Despite more than 100 years of research, there is no agreement among experts as to whether or not monkeys can imitate. Part of the problem is that there is little agreement as to what constitutes an example of ‘imitation.’ Nevertheless, recent research provides compelling evidence for both continuities and discontinuities in the psychological faculty that mediates imitation performance. A number of studies have shown that monkeys are capable of copying familiar responses but not novel responses that require the use of tools, for example. And, while these studies have been interpreted to mean that monkeys cannot engage in ‘imitation learning’ or novel imitation, research employing a cognitive imitation paradigm—where rhesus monkeys had to copy novel serial rules pertaining to the order of pictures, independently of copying specific motor responses—has provided convincing evidence of novel imitation in monkeys. Rather than suggesting that monkeys are poor imitators, these results suggest that monkeys can learn novel cognitive rules but not novel motor rules, possibly because such skills require derived neural specializations mediating fine and gross motor movements; If true, such evidence represents an important discontinuity between the imitation skills of monkeys and apes with significant implications for human cognitive evolution.
Research Poster presented at Business Systems Laboratory 2nd International Symposium "Systems Thinking for a Sustainable Economy. Advancements in Economic and Managerial Theory and Practice". Universitas Mercatorum, Rome (IT), January 23-24, 2014.
Homage to Nonaka: A journey in knowledge and wisdompbaumard
A presentation at HEC in honor of Professor Ikujiro Nonaka: Jouy en Josas, 23 oct. 2009 « From Aristotle’s Phronesis to Ikujiro Nonaka’s Tacit Knowledge : A Journey in Organizational Wisdom », Research Workshop on Knowledge and Management, HEC.
This lighting talk aims to explore, from an holistic point of view as opposed to the reductionist thinking, how the Lean Agile methodologies can be considered as part of the “turning point” in the crisis of Western reductionist way of thinking. Recent scientific discoveries indicate that all life – from the most primitive cells, up to human societies, corporations and nation-states, even the global economy – is organized along the same basic patterns and principles: those of the network. Both (Lean & Agile) offer a thinking tool set that allow us to create new models and different approaches. Hence, in this lighting talk I would like to affirm how tightly humans are connected with the fabric of life and make it clear that it is imperative to organize our world according to a different set of values and beliefs.
SPECIAL ISSUE CRITICAL REALISM IN IS RESEARCHCRITICAL RE.docxsusanschei
SPECIAL ISSUE: CRITICAL REALISM IN IS RESEARCH
CRITICAL REALISM IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
John Mingers
Kent Business School, University of Kent,
Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ UNITED KINGDOM {[email protected]}
Alistair Mutch
Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street,
Nottingham NG1 4BU UNITED KINGDOM {[email protected]}
Leslie Willcocks
London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street,
London WC2A 2AE UNITED KINGDOM {[email protected]}
Introduction
There has been growing interest in a range of disciplines
(Ackroyd and Fleetwood 2000; Danermark et al. 2002;
Fleetwood 1999; Fleetwood and Ackroyd 2004), not least
information systems (Dobson 2001; Longshore Smith 2006;
Mingers 2004b; Mutch 2010b; Volkoff et al. 2007; Wynn and
Williams 2012) in ideas derived from the philosophical tradi-
tion of critical realism. Critical realism offers exciting pros-
pects in shifting attention toward the real problems that we
face and their underlying causes, and away from a focus on
data and methods of analysis. As such, it offers a robust
framework for the use of a variety of methods in order to gain
a better understanding of the meaning and significance of
information systems in the contemporary world.
Although the term critical realism has been used in a number
of different traditions, we are primarily concerned with that
developed from the foundational work of Roy Bhaskar in the
philosophy of science, later extended in the social arena by
authors such as Archer and Sayer (Archer et al. 1998; Bhaskar
1978, 1979; Mingers 2004b; Sayer 2000). In this tradition,
the benefits of CR are seen as:
• CR defends a strongly realist ontology that there is an
existing, causally efficacious, world independent of our
knowledge. It defends this against both classical positi-
vism that would reduce the world to that which can be
empirically observed and measured, and the various
forms of constructivism that would reduce the world to
our human knowledge of it. Hence it is realist.
• CR recognizes that our access to this world is in fact
limited and always mediated by our perceptual and theo-
retical lenses. It accepts epistemic relativity (that knowl-
edge is always local and historical), but not judgmental
relativity (that all viewpoints must be equally valid).
Hence it is critical in a Kantian sense.
• CR accepts the existence of different types of objects of
knowledge—physical, social, and conceptual—which
have different ontological and epistemological charac-
teristics. They therefore require a range of different
research methods and methodologies to access them.
Since a particular object of research may well have
different characteristics, it is likely that a mixed-method
research strategy (i.e., a variety of methods in the same
research study) will be necessary and CR supports this.
In this introduction, we will first introduce the basic concepts
of critical realism as a philosophy of science.
Models and Concepts for Socio-technical Complex Systems: Towards Fractal Soci...Vincenzo De Florio
We introduce fractal social organizations—a novel class of socio-technical complex systems characterized
by a distributed, bio-inspired, hierarchical architecture. Based on a same building block that is recursively
applied at different layers, said systems provide a homogeneous way to model collective behaviors of
different complexity and scale. Key concepts and principles are enunciated by means of a case study and a
simple formalism. As preliminary evidence of the adequacy of the assumptions underlying our systems here
we define and study an algebraic model for a simple class of social organizations. We show how despite its
generic formulation, geometric representations of said model exhibit the spontaneous emergence of complex
hierarchical and modular patterns characterized by structured addition of complexity and fractal nature—
which closely correspond to the distinctive architectural traits of our fractal social organizations. Some
reflections on the significance of these results and a view to the next steps of our research conclude this
contribution.
Research Poster presented at Business Systems Laboratory 2nd International Symposium "Systems Thinking for a Sustainable Economy. Advancements in Economic and Managerial Theory and Practice". Universitas Mercatorum, Rome (IT), January 23-24, 2014.
Homage to Nonaka: A journey in knowledge and wisdompbaumard
A presentation at HEC in honor of Professor Ikujiro Nonaka: Jouy en Josas, 23 oct. 2009 « From Aristotle’s Phronesis to Ikujiro Nonaka’s Tacit Knowledge : A Journey in Organizational Wisdom », Research Workshop on Knowledge and Management, HEC.
This lighting talk aims to explore, from an holistic point of view as opposed to the reductionist thinking, how the Lean Agile methodologies can be considered as part of the “turning point” in the crisis of Western reductionist way of thinking. Recent scientific discoveries indicate that all life – from the most primitive cells, up to human societies, corporations and nation-states, even the global economy – is organized along the same basic patterns and principles: those of the network. Both (Lean & Agile) offer a thinking tool set that allow us to create new models and different approaches. Hence, in this lighting talk I would like to affirm how tightly humans are connected with the fabric of life and make it clear that it is imperative to organize our world according to a different set of values and beliefs.
SPECIAL ISSUE CRITICAL REALISM IN IS RESEARCHCRITICAL RE.docxsusanschei
SPECIAL ISSUE: CRITICAL REALISM IN IS RESEARCH
CRITICAL REALISM IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
John Mingers
Kent Business School, University of Kent,
Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ UNITED KINGDOM {[email protected]}
Alistair Mutch
Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street,
Nottingham NG1 4BU UNITED KINGDOM {[email protected]}
Leslie Willcocks
London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street,
London WC2A 2AE UNITED KINGDOM {[email protected]}
Introduction
There has been growing interest in a range of disciplines
(Ackroyd and Fleetwood 2000; Danermark et al. 2002;
Fleetwood 1999; Fleetwood and Ackroyd 2004), not least
information systems (Dobson 2001; Longshore Smith 2006;
Mingers 2004b; Mutch 2010b; Volkoff et al. 2007; Wynn and
Williams 2012) in ideas derived from the philosophical tradi-
tion of critical realism. Critical realism offers exciting pros-
pects in shifting attention toward the real problems that we
face and their underlying causes, and away from a focus on
data and methods of analysis. As such, it offers a robust
framework for the use of a variety of methods in order to gain
a better understanding of the meaning and significance of
information systems in the contemporary world.
Although the term critical realism has been used in a number
of different traditions, we are primarily concerned with that
developed from the foundational work of Roy Bhaskar in the
philosophy of science, later extended in the social arena by
authors such as Archer and Sayer (Archer et al. 1998; Bhaskar
1978, 1979; Mingers 2004b; Sayer 2000). In this tradition,
the benefits of CR are seen as:
• CR defends a strongly realist ontology that there is an
existing, causally efficacious, world independent of our
knowledge. It defends this against both classical positi-
vism that would reduce the world to that which can be
empirically observed and measured, and the various
forms of constructivism that would reduce the world to
our human knowledge of it. Hence it is realist.
• CR recognizes that our access to this world is in fact
limited and always mediated by our perceptual and theo-
retical lenses. It accepts epistemic relativity (that knowl-
edge is always local and historical), but not judgmental
relativity (that all viewpoints must be equally valid).
Hence it is critical in a Kantian sense.
• CR accepts the existence of different types of objects of
knowledge—physical, social, and conceptual—which
have different ontological and epistemological charac-
teristics. They therefore require a range of different
research methods and methodologies to access them.
Since a particular object of research may well have
different characteristics, it is likely that a mixed-method
research strategy (i.e., a variety of methods in the same
research study) will be necessary and CR supports this.
In this introduction, we will first introduce the basic concepts
of critical realism as a philosophy of science.
Models and Concepts for Socio-technical Complex Systems: Towards Fractal Soci...Vincenzo De Florio
We introduce fractal social organizations—a novel class of socio-technical complex systems characterized
by a distributed, bio-inspired, hierarchical architecture. Based on a same building block that is recursively
applied at different layers, said systems provide a homogeneous way to model collective behaviors of
different complexity and scale. Key concepts and principles are enunciated by means of a case study and a
simple formalism. As preliminary evidence of the adequacy of the assumptions underlying our systems here
we define and study an algebraic model for a simple class of social organizations. We show how despite its
generic formulation, geometric representations of said model exhibit the spontaneous emergence of complex
hierarchical and modular patterns characterized by structured addition of complexity and fractal nature—
which closely correspond to the distinctive architectural traits of our fractal social organizations. Some
reflections on the significance of these results and a view to the next steps of our research conclude this
contribution.
Fundamental Characteristics of a Complex Systemijtsrd
In this review basic concepts are presented, as well as the fundamental characteristics related to Complexity and some examples of their applications in organizations. It is an interdisciplinary area that is becoming increasingly important in the relentless pursuit of science to expand the limits of our knowledge and the laws governing the phenomena of nature. The main argument of this paper is that the understanding and consequent application of such approaches in the organizational process, provides an improvement in the decision making. Celso Luis Levada | Osvaldo Missiato | Antonio Luis Ferrari | Miriam De Magalhães Oliveira Levada "Fundamental Characteristics of a Complex System" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-6 , October 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd28098.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/engineering/other/28098/fundamental-characteristics-of-a-complex-system/celso-luis-levada
11Systems TheoryBRUCE D. FRIEDMAN AND KAREN NEUMAN ALL.docxmoggdede
11
Systems Theory
BRUCE D. FRIEDMAN AND KAREN NEUMAN ALLEN
3
Biopsychosocial assessment and the develop-ment of appropriate intervention strategies for
a particular client require consideration of the indi-
vidual in relation to a larger social context. To
accomplish this, we use principles and concepts
derived from systems theory. Systems theory is a
way of elaborating increasingly complex systems
across a continuum that encompasses the person-in-
environment (Anderson, Carter, & Lowe, 1999).
Systems theory also enables us to understand the
components and dynamics of client systems in order
to interpret problems and develop balanced inter-
vention strategies, with the goal of enhancing the
“goodness of fit” between individuals and their
environments. Systems theory does not specify par-
ticular theoretical frameworks for understanding
problems, and it does not direct the social worker to
specific intervention strategies. Rather, it serves as
an organizing conceptual framework or metatheory
for understanding (Meyer, 1983).
As a profession, social work has struggled to
identify an organizing framework for practice that
captures the nature of what we do. Many have iden-
tified systems theory as that organizing framework
(Goldstein, 1990; Hearn, 1958; Meyer, 1976, 1983;
Siporin, 1980). However, because of the complex
nature of the clinical enterprise, others have chal-
lenged the suitability of systems theory as an orga-
nizing framework for clinical practice (Fook, Ryan,
& Hawkins, 1997; Wakefield, 1996a, 1996b).
The term system emerged from Émile Durkheim’s
early study of social systems (Robbins, Chatterjee,
& Canda, 2006), as well as from the work of
Talcott Parsons. However, within social work, sys-
tems thinking has been more heavily influenced by
the work of the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy
and later adaptations by the social psychologist Uri
Bronfenbrenner, who examined human biological
systems within an ecological environment. With
its roots in von Bertalanffy’s systems theory and
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological environment, the
ecosys tems perspective provides a framework that
permits users to draw on theories from different dis-
ciplines in order to analyze the complex nature of
human interactions within a social environment.
RELEVANT HISTORY
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901–1972), as mentioned
above, is credited with being the originator of the
form of systems theory used in social work. Von
Bertalanffy, a theoretical biologist born and educated
in Austria, became dis satisfied with the way linear,
cause-and-effect theories explained growth and
change in living organisms. He felt that change might
occur because of the interac tions between the parts
of an organism, a point of view that represented a
dramatic change from the theories of his day.
Existing theories had tended to be reductionis t,
understanding the whole by breaking it into its parts.
Von Bertalanffy’s introduction of systems theory
changed that framework by looki ...
Module 3 The Individual in Postmodern SocietyDiscussion Questio.docxroushhsiu
Module 3: The Individual in Postmodern Society
Discussion Question : Name two negative outcomes of low fertility rates? Would Malthus agree with these arguments
Learning Resources
What Is Postmodernism?
In module 2 we discussed how modern society grew out of rational design and organization. Modernist systems reject disorganization and chaos. They strongly support the power of the institution and institutionalized systems such as corporations, school systems, and the government overall. Because of a strong belief in the rationality and usefulness of the system, challenges to the modern system seem unreasonable and unacceptable. This is roughly where U.S. culture was in the middle of the twentieth century, until many challenges seemed quite reasonable and became more common in occurrence. Postmodernism not only approves of the disorganized or chaotic side of society, but embraces it (Klages, 2003).
Postmodernism recognizes that individual differences and personal self-expression are left out of the equation of the modern, rationalized system. Closed and narrow systems and rigidly defined roles were questioned in the mid-twentieth century, thus ushering in an era of postmodernism. The civil rights movement, the women's movement, the gay rights movement, and the environmental movement are examples of how postmodernism has become tied to social movements in the last half century. This module will explore postmodernism and social movement theory and how these factors have had an impact on the individual in the postmodern world.
Postmodernism, Subjective Reality, and Social Constructivism
One of the primary differences between modernism and postmodernism is how each movement defines truth. Modernity is based on the belief in universal truths, which are generally tested and proven scientifically or analytically. Postmodernism recognizes that truth is more likely based on individual perception and interpretation ("Postmodernism," 2005). Postmodernists see that there is no absolute truth; rather, truth depends on life experience and point of view. During the second half of the twentieth century, many new theories arose in sociology to challenge the classic perspectives of functionalism and conflict theory. One of these alternative perspectives defines reality more subjectively.
Subjective Reality and Social Constructivism
One of the main historical subtopics in sociological theory is the study of ideology, or the study of the conditions under which some, but not other, ideas come to be held as the authoritative basis for a given set of social relations. For example, as feminist theorists have studied the gender patterns of various societies, they have found that much of gender interaction is governed by the ideology of patriarchy (Lerner, 1986), or a cultural construct that has historically emphasized male dominance over and/or the ownership of property, women, children, and animals. Further, feminists have noted many of the sources or key ideas grou ...
Origins and Elements of Human Governing Behaviors.pdfShababb Hussain
The origins and development of governing in the human species can be
described on two timescales (Richerson et al. 2003, 383). The frst is the
long period during the Pleistocene when our social instincts were honed
by living in small and mobile hunter-gatherer groups. During this time,
many genetic changes occurred as a function of humans living in groups
with social institutions that were heavily infuenced by culture. At this timescale
of hundreds of thousands of years, genes and culture coevolved. The
second is the short period of the past 10,000 years, the Holocene, when
people replaced a nomadic life with a sedentary existence. At this timescale,
genetic changes were fairly insignifcant, while the cultural changes turned
out to be ever larger and faster.
Copyright Information (bibliographic) Document Type Book Ch.docxmelvinjrobinson2199
Copyright Information (bibliographic)
Document Type: Book Chapter
Title of book: Family Therapy: An Overview (9th Edition)
Author of book: Irene Goldenberg, Mark Stanton, Herbert Goldenberg
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 Systems Theory and Systemic Thinking
Author of Chapter: Irene Goldenberg, Mark Stanton, Herbert Goldenberg
Year: 2017
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Place of Publishing: United States of America
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions
specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other
reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not
to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research. If a user makes
a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of fair use
that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
LO 1 Describe potential problems with
using only the scientific method to
explain family functioning
LO 2 Explain systemic functioning using
a paradigm or descriptive model
LO 3 Discuss some characteristics of a
family system
LO 4 Apply systemic thinking to family
therapy
84
Family therapy is informed by systems theory and systemic
thinking in order to fully understand and provide psycho
therapy to couples and families (Stanton & Welsh, 2012).
A systemic approach stands in contrast to the individualis
tic thinking typical of most people raised in Western society
who were educated in the context of the Cartesian scientific
method espoused by Rene Descartes in 1738 (Capra, 2002).
1 Extending Beyond the
Scientific Method
The scientific method begins with a questioning mind that
does not accept anything as true unless there is clear evidence
of its truth and proceeds to break any problem under inves
tigation into pieces in order to understand the components
of the problem and tries to solve it. The reconnection of the
pieces proceeds from those easiest to understand to those most
complex without considering any natural connection between
the parts and concludes when thorough questioning ensures
nothing was left out of the solution. This method led to ma
jor scientific discoveries and the solution of many problems in
medicine, food production, and industry. Most of us in the
western hemisphere were educated to think according to this
method, and we now do so without even realizing we are do
ing so. However, as this method became the standard way of
thinking in Western societies, it resulted in extreme individ
ualism (loss of the natural relationship between parts of the
whole), reductionism (trying to understand complex problems
by looking at parts of them apart from the context around
SYSTEMS THEORY AND SYSTEMIC THINKING
them,.
Similar to Human research and complexity theory c9 march_0114 (20)
The Indian economy is classified into different sectors to simplify the analysis and understanding of economic activities. For Class 10, it's essential to grasp the sectors of the Indian economy, understand their characteristics, and recognize their importance. This guide will provide detailed notes on the Sectors of the Indian Economy Class 10, using specific long-tail keywords to enhance comprehension.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
This is a presentation by Dada Robert in a Your Skill Boost masterclass organised by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan (EFSS) on Saturday, the 25th and Sunday, the 26th of May 2024.
He discussed the concept of quality improvement, emphasizing its applicability to various aspects of life, including personal, project, and program improvements. He defined quality as doing the right thing at the right time in the right way to achieve the best possible results and discussed the concept of the "gap" between what we know and what we do, and how this gap represents the areas we need to improve. He explained the scientific approach to quality improvement, which involves systematic performance analysis, testing and learning, and implementing change ideas. He also highlighted the importance of client focus and a team approach to quality improvement.
Palestine last event orientationfvgnh .pptxRaedMohamed3
An EFL lesson about the current events in Palestine. It is intended to be for intermediate students who wish to increase their listening skills through a short lesson in power point.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
3. James Horn, PhD [email_address] Dissertation: The Emergence of Meaning in an Interdisciplinary Learning Environment : A Qualitative Study of the James R. Stokely Institute for Liberal Arts Education Research Interests : Complex Learning Communities, Organizational Change, Educational Philosophy and Theory, History of Educational Reforms, Qualitative Research Methodologies Horn, J. (2008). Human research and complexity theory. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 40: 1, 130-143.
4. Abstract Challenge The new sciences of complexity signal the emergence of a new scientific paradigm that challenges some of the core assumptions of positivism, while offering the potential to develop a new kind of social science that demands both rigour and imagination in coming to understand the emergence and behaviors of social systems and the subsystems that comprise them. Complement The language, concepts and principles of complexity are central to the development of a new science of qualities to complement the science of quantities that has shaped our understanding of the physical and social worlds.
5. Summary • Introduction • What Complexity Is • Toward a Qualitative Approach to a Science of Qualities • From Simplicity to Complexity • Researching the ‘Edge of Chaos’ • Ethics and Complexity Research Keywords • complexity theory and education • educational research • change • self-organization • autonomous systems
6. (1) Introduction Gregory Bateson Bateson’s long view seems particularly appropriate to keep in mind now during our early enthusiasms for the new sciences of complexity that are finding entry points to thinking and research questions across many disciplines that range from anthropology (Lansing, 2003) to zoology (Parrish & Edelstein-Keshnet, 1999). Schools as complex organizations Even though our own experiences told us that schools most often are externally controlled and not controlled from within, we believed that an understanding and acceptance of the new sciences could change all that. The democratizing potential that self-organizing adaptive systems The bubbling up of order and freedom derived from local interactions seemed to present the potential realization of a Dewey an agenda begun a hundred years prior.
7. (1)Introduction Thinking loosely->Stricter thinking there was a worrisome sense that the longer we had to wait for complexity theory to advance beyond the metaphorical stage, the greater the likelihood would be for these ideas to become (for the time being, at least) another ‘fad de jour ’ destined for the dustbin of scientific oddities. Begun to deepen perspectives on understanding This was a fate that seemed undeserving for a set of propositions that, not even fully developed, had already begun to deepen perspectives on understanding, if not predicting, phenomena in the physical, biological, social, and linguistic worlds.
8. Dangers Scientific or philosophic gestalts do not occur overnight In designing philosophical or empirical studies inside the new complexity box, there could easily develop the temptation to limit research questions to that which could be answered with what we presently know (or don’t know) of complexity, thus sustaining our current level of metaphorical understanding and moving us no closer to rendering ‘general laws of pattern formation’ (Waldrop, 1992) regarding interactive, open systems—systems that are not self-contained but that take in and dissipate energy through interactions. Attempts to resolve ambiguities, or to simplify complexities A second danger resides in attempts to resolve ambiguities, or to simplify complexities, through the use of methodologies and methods that may be rigorous, yet reductive— or comprehensively abstract, though experientially removed from the phenomena to be understood (as in C. Wright Mills’s (1959) criticism of the ‘abstracted empiricism’ of his day).
9. Toward a clearer delineation of an expanded boundary of science Even so, that seems to be an important place to begin if we are going to move beyond Bateson’s loose thinking stage and toward a clearer delineation of an expanded boundary of science that may, in fact, represent a reclamation of a wider world that has historically been out of bounds for scientific sense-making.
10. (2)What Complexity Is Complexity focuses on emergent behaviors that result from interactions within and among self-organizing and adaptive systems (Barlow & Waldrop, 1994; Richardson, 2005). Goal The goal of the complexity sciences is to comprehend and explain general laws of pattern formation ( Waldrop, 1992) that signify transitions within autonomous, open systems. Opportunity For educational researchers, the study of learning communities as self-organizing systems offers an opportunity to understand the conditions that are in place when phase transitions occur.
11. (2)What Complexity The sciences of complexity are concerned with understanding emergent behaviours and behavioural pattern formations that result from interactions of system agents. Invisible hands Historically, the management of social organizations of all types has been maintained by control measures that work to block the capacity of systems to operate autonomously. In many cases, these ‘enforced mechanisms’ (Maturana & Varela, 1998, p. 199) create unhealthy systems that regularly exhibit the pathologies of impaired systems.
12. How biological systems and social systems differ Biological systems Maturana and Varela (1998) point out that the organism or biological system is sustained by the contributions of its agents whose unrestrained expressions are held in check for the good of the organism. Human social systems Whether they are kindergarten classrooms or adult study groups or corporations, remain viable and capable of growth and change through the continued capacity of interacting members to experience autonomous growth and change. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘ The organism restricts the individual creativity of its component unities, as these unities exist for that organism. The human social system amplifies the individual creativity of its components, as that system exists for these components’(Maturana & Varela, 1998, p. 199).
13. The scientific management movement in education in the early 20 th century were clearly aimed at imposing order upon a system that would otherwise, it was thought, lose energy and eventually disintegrate without such imposition. Those human communities which, because they embody enforced mechanisms of stabilization in all the behavioral dimensions of its members, constitute impaired human social systems: they have lost their vigor and have depersonalized their agents; they have become more like an organism, as in the case of Sparta (Maturana &Varela , 1998, p.199). To disregard these distinctions between organic and social systems confuses
14. Historically, these efforts have most often ignored or rejected the possibility that social systems have the capacity to self-organize, adapt, and undergo transitions that lead to sustained, or even higher, levels of effectiveness and efficiency. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interactive and open social systems , however, depend upon a mix of negative and positive (amplifying) feedback that occur as a result of I-actions of the agents that comprise the system in the light of environmental contexts. These two types of feedback constitute, in fact , the centrifugal and centripetal forces that intermittently move systems toward expansion and contraction , depending, again, on larger environmental circumstances. Interactive and open social systems
15. Understanding how to allow and sustain self-organizing social systems will require an expansion of the current scientific repertoire used in schools to include ‘a science of qualities that is not an alternative to, but complements and extends, the science of quantities’ (Goodwin, 1994, p. 198). However, the system that began as the focus of understanding inevitably becomes transformed from its naturalistic manifestation into an imposed design that can be rendered by the science used to study it. In order to understand schools and classrooms as the complex environments that they are capable of becoming, we must first allow them to be so. Complements and Extends
16. Complexity holds out the potential to re-establish the lost link to science that resulted from a denunciation of positivist assumptions. With the lens of complexity, we are able to see whole systems as irreducible examples of knowledge in action, thus establishing a clear link between behaving and thinking, or between ‘data of sense and data of consciousness’ (Lonergan, 1958). Complexity acknowledges the need for a systematic and principled empirical approach to investigating behaviour and thought, while recognizing that every investigation includes an investigator. The recognition of ‘objectivity in parenthesis’ (Maturana, 1988) has profound implications for the ways that humans may come to view the world within which they operate and make knowledge claims. (3)Toward a Qualitative Approach to a Science of Qualities
17. From wide-ranging studies of dynamical systems, a new dialogue has begun to examine what constitutes evolution, learning, organizations, and life itself. It is an interdisciplinary dialogue that focuses on the self-organization of complex adaptive systems, from the cellular to the social level. While being mapped within various scientific disciplines, these developments ( Wolfram, 2002) offer scientific alternatives to the predominantly reductionist assumptions that have informed science to date. (4) From Simplicity to Complexity
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19. Langton found, through a glitch in his computer programme that occurred as he adjusted interaction rules, what he came to term the ‘lambda parameter’. When interactions were absent, the cellular automata exhibited zero growth. When interactions were sparse, some self-organization was apparent, but soon the dots on the computer grid coalesced into static blobs. Interaction levels were not sufficient to sustain the community. When the interactions between agents were extremely numerous, the computer grid became chaotic, with cycles of accelerated growth followed by mass extinctions. But when the parameters for interactions were established at a certain mid-point, the automata exhibited ‘coherent structures that propagated, grew, split apart, and recombined in wonderfully complex ways’ (p. 226). (5) ) Researching the ‘Edge of Chaos’
20. Goodwin suggests that the organizational relations must be established for a ‘maximum dynamic interaction’ (p. 184) in order for individual transitions to cascade back and forth through the system, thus producing community as well as individual effects. By doing so, the individual partakes of a community continually enriched by her own individual interactive capacities. (5) maximum dynamic interaction
21. [Dynamic systems theory] is being used by researchers and theorists for many different levels of analysis, for behavior ranging from the physiologic to the social, and for describing change over time scales from seconds to years. We see this diversity, however, not as a failing of the approach, but indeed as its real strength ... . [W]e are now alert to the pitfalls of explaining too much by single, overarching organization. It seems to us that the future of [dynamic systems theory] will lie with very general principles of process and change, applicable in many domains, over many levels and time scales, but also allowing the multiple local details to emerge from the necessary empirical work (p. xii). (5) Researching the ‘Edge of Chaos’
22. [Dynamic systems theory] is being used by researchers and theorists for many different levels of analysis, for behavior ranging from the physiologic to the social, and for describing change over time scales from seconds to years. We see this diversity, however, not as a failing of the approach, but indeed as its real strength ... . We are now alert to the pitfalls of explaining too much by single, overarching organization. It seems to us that the future of [dynamic systems theory] will lie with very general principles of process and change, applicable in many domains, over many levels and time scales, but also allowing the multiple local details to emerge from the necessary empirical work (p. xii). [Dynamic systems theory]
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24. In conceiving a research process that is both self-organizing and reflexive, it is necessary to recognize the ontological parity that characterizes the ‘observer community’(Varela, 1979, 1999) comprised of researchers and research participants. Such models would have to be as complex as the original, since the distributed, nonlinear features of complex systems do not allow for the compression of data. Here, this observer readily concedes the difficulty posed in deriving direct causal explanations or predictive proof for complex phenomena within which he is embedded—and the folly of attempting to derive a true understanding if he were otherwise. (6) Ethics and Complexity Research
25. How then do such possibilities and pronouncements fit with the reality of schools and the needs of teachers and students? I would argue first that every teacher can and should understand the underlying big picture of the new sciences , for with that understanding necessarily comes the realization that she has been placed in charge of a sensitive learning ecology whose directions can be altered by small changes in the boundary conditions and interaction patterns of the classroom. (6) Ethics and Complexity Research
26. Complexity offers the insight that the study of human systems is best done where it is happening, with students and teachers whose I-actions form the learning patterns that can be shifted without major infusions of motivational energy or continuing intrusions of control measures, either of which stands in the way of growing humans who aspire to freedom and autonomy in the absence of external motivators or control measures.