Ebook: Understanding Complexity

Peter A. Coming Palo Alto, CA November, 2000 This volwne represents a distillation of the plenary sessions at a unique millenniwn­ year event -a World Congress of the Systems Sciences in conjunction with the 44th annual meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS). The overall theme of the conference was "Understanding Complexity in the New Millenniwn. " Held at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, Canada, from July 16-22,2000, the conference included some 350 participants from over 30 countries, many of whom were representatives of the 21 organizations and groups that co-hosted this landmark event. Each of these co-host organizations/groups also presented a segment of the program, including a plenary speech. In addition, the conference featured a nwnber of distinguished "keynote" speeches related to the three daily World Congress themes: (1) The Evolution of Complex Systems, (2) The Dynamics of Complex Systems, and (3) Human Systems in the 21st Century. There were also seven special plenary-level symposia on a range of timely topics, including: "The Art and Science of Forecasting in the Age of Global Wanning"; "Capitalism in the New Millenniwn: The Challenge of Sustainability"; "The Future of the Systems Sciences"; "Global Issues in the New Millenniwn"; "Resources and the Environment in the New Millenniwn"; "The Lessons of Y2K"; and "Can There be a Reconciliation Between Science and Religion?" Included in this special commemorative volume is a cross-section of these presentations.

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This book is a commemorative volume of the World Congress of Systems Science and ISSS, Toronto, Canada, and includes written summaries of the specially featured Keynote, plenary, and symposia presentations from a unique gathering of many of the leaders of the systems science movement. These distinguished contributors address the common theme of complexity, and the management of complex systems, from the perspective of many different disciplines.

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This book is a commemorative volume of the World Congress of Systems Science and ISSS, Toronto, Canada, and includes written summaries of the specially featured Keynote, plenary, and symposia presentations from a unique gathering of many of the leaders of the systems science movement. These distinguished contributors address the common theme of complexity, and the management of complex systems, from the perspective of many different disciplines.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Systemic View of the World: ? Logo of General Systems Research....Pages 3-6
Systems Science Fundamental Principles....Pages 7-13
A Cosmological Imperative: Emergence of Information, Complexity, and Life....Pages 15-17
The Co-Creation Hypothesis....Pages 19-29
What is Infodynamics?....Pages 31-38
Front Matter....Pages 40-40
The History on Sociocybernetics, RC51, of the International Sociological Association....Pages 41-43
Systems Practice at the United Kingdom's Open University....Pages 45-53
The WOSC and Some Views About Cybernetics....Pages 55-58
Presentation of Wiener Gold Medal to Dr. Candace Pert....Pages 59-62
Front Matter....Pages 64-64
On Misdirected Systems....Pages 65-73
The Complexity of Performance and the Instruments of Mastery....Pages 75-81
Understanding Imperfection....Pages 83-90
Engaging with Transient Complexity in Development Projects....Pages 91-102
Meaning Networks and Verbal Communication: A Semiotic Perspective of Human Discourse....Pages 103-118
Can Religion be Reconciled with Science?....Pages 119-124
Front Matter....Pages 125-125
The Bridge to Humanity’s Future....Pages 127-138
Energy, Hierarchy and Money....Pages 139-148
Capitalism in the New Millennium: The Challenge of Sustainability....Pages 149-154
Front Matter....Pages 155-155
Technological Forecasting and Assessment Tools: The Changing Scene....Pages 157-164
Forecasting the Innovation of Complex Technologies....Pages 165-171
Front Matter....Pages 155-155
Making Technology Foresight (and Systems Studies?) Useful....Pages 173-179
Front Matter....Pages 181-181
Why the Century Date Change Occurred so Smoothly....Pages 183-189
Implications for the Security of the International Information Infrastructure....Pages 191-199
Y2K - “Ten Months After”: Two “Double Binds” and a “Double Blindness”....Pages 201-215
Front Matter....Pages 217-217
The Future of the Natural Systems Sciences....Pages 219-237
Systems Thinking and the Social Sciences....Pages 239-247
Systems Thinking for the 21st Century....Pages 249-256
OR 2000: Challenges and Prescriptions for the New Millennium....Pages 257-268
Front Matter....Pages 269-269
The Systems Movement and Isss in the New Millennium....Pages 271-275
Presidential Speech: The Systems Sciences in the Year 3000....Pages 277-282
Incoming President’s Address Continuing the Traditions of ISSS: Systems Science in the Service of Humanity....Pages 283-287
Back Matter....Pages 289-292

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This book is a commemorative volume of the World Congress of Systems Science and ISSS, Toronto, Canada, and includes written summaries of the specially featured Keynote, plenary, and symposia presentations from a unique gathering of many of the leaders of the systems science movement. These distinguished contributors address the common theme of complexity, and the management of complex systems, from the perspective of many different disciplines.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Systemic View of the World: ? Logo of General Systems Research....Pages 3-6
Systems Science Fundamental Principles....Pages 7-13
A Cosmological Imperative: Emergence of Information, Complexity, and Life....Pages 15-17
The Co-Creation Hypothesis....Pages 19-29
What is Infodynamics?....Pages 31-38
Front Matter....Pages 40-40
The History on Sociocybernetics, RC51, of the International Sociological Association....Pages 41-43
Systems Practice at the United Kingdom's Open University....Pages 45-53
The WOSC and Some Views About Cybernetics....Pages 55-58
Presentation of Wiener Gold Medal to Dr. Candace Pert....Pages 59-62
Front Matter....Pages 64-64
On Misdirected Systems....Pages 65-73
The Complexity of Performance and the Instruments of Mastery....Pages 75-81
Understanding Imperfection....Pages 83-90
Engaging with Transient Complexity in Development Projects....Pages 91-102
Meaning Networks and Verbal Communication: A Semiotic Perspective of Human Discourse....Pages 103-118
Can Religion be Reconciled with Science?....Pages 119-124
Front Matter....Pages 125-125
The Bridge to Humanity’s Future....Pages 127-138
Energy, Hierarchy and Money....Pages 139-148
Capitalism in the New Millennium: The Challenge of Sustainability....Pages 149-154
Front Matter....Pages 155-155
Technological Forecasting and Assessment Tools: The Changing Scene....Pages 157-164
Forecasting the Innovation of Complex Technologies....Pages 165-171
Front Matter....Pages 155-155
Making Technology Foresight (and Systems Studies?) Useful....Pages 173-179
Front Matter....Pages 181-181
Why the Century Date Change Occurred so Smoothly....Pages 183-189
Implications for the Security of the International Information Infrastructure....Pages 191-199
Y2K - “Ten Months After”: Two “Double Binds” and a “Double Blindness”....Pages 201-215
Front Matter....Pages 217-217
The Future of the Natural Systems Sciences....Pages 219-237
Systems Thinking and the Social Sciences....Pages 239-247
Systems Thinking for the 21st Century....Pages 249-256
OR 2000: Challenges and Prescriptions for the New Millennium....Pages 257-268
Front Matter....Pages 269-269
The Systems Movement and Isss in the New Millennium....Pages 271-275
Presidential Speech: The Systems Sciences in the Year 3000....Pages 277-282
Incoming President’s Address Continuing the Traditions of ISSS: Systems Science in the Service of Humanity....Pages 283-287
Back Matter....Pages 289-292
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