Pragmatic Systems for Thinking
Ideas (or concepts) are perspectives, lens, viewpoints, stances on some phenomenon (object or system). The Pragmatic System for Thinking, (Nietzsche, Dewey, Churchman, Ackoff, Mitroff, Linstone, Mason…) has been arguing this approach to problem solving for some time. The aim is to create knowledge and problem appreciation by encouraging new perspectives. Where do this new perspectives come from? Our approach includes metaphoric synthesis, story telling, system shifting, problem picturing, question-sourcing methods and stakeholder synthesis, indeed any creative source that provides a new way of seeing. The perspective and its consequences does need to be reasonably justified to a sceptical audience.
Of course 'systems' is itself a useful concept for thinking about the world.
Can I recommend F. Nietzsche's essay, "On Truth and Lies In A Non Moral Sense" . All knowledge is perspectival but the way to avoid nihilism or relativism may be reasoned public argument.
To view the following PDFs you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader (These files range in size from 145Kb to 623Kb)
Contemporary systems thinking
| Using Systems
Thinking To Critique (.pdf) Sourcing Problem-Dissolving Questions (.pdf)
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| The following files are flash (.swf) files and need to be viewed
in Internet Explorer:
Also view the following website for systems diagramming tutorials at the Open University (UK)
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Systems Thinking |
Multiple Perspectives