Contemporary general systems theory encompasses systems science and technology, as well as systems philosophy. The latter is the growing edge where conceptual innovations are explored and their relevance to concrete problems examined. Philosophical value theory can be reconstructed in the framework of systems philosophy by conceiving of values as expressions of various states of adaptation of the individual to his biological and sociocultural environment. Hereby the way is opened to a science of normative values, defining patterns of optimum physical and mental development in persons. The basic conceptual map underlying this program is constructed in reference to contemporary theories of value and system-environment interaction patterns. 0+3 SYSTEMS SCIENCE AND SYSTEMS PHILOSOPHYORK IN gcneral systems thwrg cur-W r L lntly progresses in scveral conceptual modes, as well as within different disciplines in any given conceptual mode (Laszlo, 1972a). Following von Bertalanffy's (1972) asscssment of trends in gmeral systems theory, I distinguish t n o principal modes of theory formulation in gcneral systems work. Thesc modes are measured against a scale of quantitativc formal mathematical approaches shading into general concrptual explorations. The scalt. can also be stated as cncompassing scirnce on thr one end and philosophy on the other. Hence wc have systrms science defining the formal mathrmatical approaches, and systrms philosophy symbolizing the broader conceptual c.xplorations. Both are indispensablc for thr progress of work in any field, and cspecially in a rclatively new onc.On the scirnctl end of thc scalc, \wrk progrcsses in both purc and applicd gmcral systems theory. In purc systems scirncc, math(.-maticians and logicians specify axioms, rulrs of deduction, and theorrms applicable to systrms as such, abstracted from further cmpirical considcrations. Manipulation of the models permits the derivation of dynamic processes in thc form of temporal transforms, ~i hich yidd a spectrum of possible systemic states. Empirically oriented purr systems scicnce can use such models to map obscrvcd or reconstructed empirical phenomena in the light of the concepts, instruments and knoa 1-tcims already accumulated in the.given field. Through the use of formal mathomatical systcms models, both th(. scope and the problem solving capacity of a scitbnct. may be enlarged, the latter through the ability of scientists to formulate problems in a resoluble manncr in reference to systcms models, and thc former by leading them to nen phenomena, suggested by tho application of the models. Aloreovcr, the concepts and thcorics of rmpirical systcms scirncc become readily cxtensible to different fidds, since thc language and its grammar are isomorphic, regardless of the genus of rmpirical fact to which they arc applied.Applied gcnwal systc.ms theory constitutes systcms technology. Herc a distinction can br made bctwern thc application of a formal inathcmatical system throry to map states and proeesscs in the domain of thc c'mpirical ijo...
ing in America and the world over, and neo-Nazi and other extremist movements are surfacing in Europe.We are also destroying the planet. The production of essential biological and physical resources has already peaked. Forests, species of fish, and coral reefs are damaged and disappearing, soils are impoverished by overcropping and by chemicals; diversity is reduced by genetic manipulation. The reserves of fresh water are diminishing; more than half the world's population faces water shortages. And climate change threatens to make most of the planet unsuited for food production and habitation.If we continue in this way, changing weather patterns will create ever more drought and hurricanes, widespread harvest failures, and rising sea levels. Some areas will dry out, others will be flooded. Millions will flee the worst-hit areas. In the ensuing conflagration, no country, no population, will be spared.To shift or not to shift is not the question. If we are to "be" we need to shift, and sooner or later we Had he lived today, Hamlet would affirm with more conviction than ever: the question is, to be or not to be. He would be right. But it is not the skull of an individual that Hamlet would ponder, but the living Earth. Will we survive on this planet, or become extinct like the dinosaurs?The fact is that we are approaching a major watershed; a global tipping point. What will come is not decided yet, but one thing is certain: it will not be the same as what we have today. We can't go on as we have been.We are destroying the fabric of society. There is growing insecurity in countries both rich and poor and greater propensity to resort to terrorism and war. One in three urban dwellers live in slums, shantytowns, and urban ghettos; more than 900 million are classified as slum-dwellers. The gap is widening between the wealthy and powerful and the poor and marginalized. Eighty percent of the world's domestic product belongs to one billion people, and the remaining 20% is shared by 5.5 billion. Islamic fundamentalism is spreading throughout the Middle East, religious fanaticism is grow- WORLDSHIFT! Creating a Quantum Leap in the Global Brain:To Shift or Not to Shift -Why That Is NOT the Question by Ervin Laszlo Ervin Laszlo is the founder of The Club of Budapest, the Chancellor-Designate of GlobalShift University (www.globalshiftu.org), and author of over eighty books, including Science and the Akashic Field and Quantum
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