Liberating Systems Theory

243 Pages·1990·7.366 MB·English

by  Robert L. Flood (auth.)

Liberating Systems Theory
Contemporary Systems Thinking
Series Editor: Robert L. Flood
University of Hull
Hull, United Kingdom
LIBERATING SYSTEMS THEORY
Robert L. Flood
OPERATIONAL RESEARCH AND SYSTEMS: The Systemic
Nature of Operational Research
Paull{eys
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Liberating Systems Theory
Robert L. Flood
University of Hull
Hull, United Kingdom
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Flood, Robert L.
Liberating systeas theory / Robert L. Flood.
p. ca. — (Contemporary systems thinking)
Includes bibliographical references and Index.
ISBN 978-1-4899-2479-7
1. Systea theory. I. Title. II. Sertes.
HD38.F588 1990
003—dc20 90-42963
CIP
ISBN 978-1-4899-2479-7 ISBN 978-1-4899-2477-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4899-2477-3
© 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally Published by Plenum Press, New York in 1990
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1990
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
Dedicated to my great friend Mike
SERIES PREFACE
Contemporary Systems Thinking is a series of texts, each of which
deals comparatively and/or critically with different aspects of holistic thinking
at the frontiers of the discipline. Traditionally, writings by systems thinkers
have been concerned with single theme propositions such as General
Systems Theory, Cybernetics, Operations Research, System Dynamics, Soft
Systems Methodology and many others. Recently there have been attempts
to fulfil a different yet equally important role by comparative analyses of
viewpoints and approaches, each addressing disparate areas of study such
as: modeling and simulation, measurement, management, 'problem solving'
methods, international relations, social theory and last, but not exhaustively
or least, philosophy. In a recent book these were drawn together within a
multiform framework as part of an eclectic discussion - a nearly impossible
task as I discovered (see Dealing With Complexity - An Introduction to the
Theory and Application of Systems Science, R. L. Flood and E. R. Carson,
Plenum, New York, 1988). Nevertheless, bringing many sources together
led to several achievements, among which was showing a great diversity of
approaches, ideas and application areas that systems thinking contributes to
(although often with difficulties remaining unresolved). More important,
however, while working on that manuscript I became aware of the need for
and potential value in a series of books, each focusing in detail on the study
areas mentioned above. While modeling and simulation are served well in
the scientific literature, this is not the case for systems thinking in
management, 'problem solving' methods, social theory, or philosophy to
name a handful. Each book in this series will make a contribution by
concentrating on one of these topics. Each one will offer a further interest
beyond other available books because of the inevitable tensions that authors
will have to deal with, between contrasting approaches that have all too
often met in nonreflective adversarial mode as specialist takes on specialist.
There can be no genuine victors emerging from that style of intellectual
debate.
Yet an alternative critical and comparative study poses an interesting
difficulty for authors in this series. Each author must consider how they can
best deal with contrasting approaches. There are two obvious options.
First, by adopting a monolithic isolationist position that makes no real
distinction between approaches which stand apart according to their own
principles. Second, by taking the bold step of adopting a complementarist
approach that operates at a meta-level and accepts fundamentally that
different rationalities exist, each with its own theoretical and methodological
legitimacies and limitations. I do not intend to dictate an isolationist or a
complementarist position to the authors, but the reader's awareness of this
issue sets up an extremely interesting tension that can be followed
throughout the series.
Robert L. Flood
Hull, UK
June 1990
vII
PREFACE
The argument of this book has no beginning and no end. This volume,
therefore, was difficult to start and finish, which is inevitable for complex
dependent thoughts set out in serial presentation. The argument is a
'system of thought', a highly integrated but not totalizing, closed, or complete
whole. It is an unbounded one, an argument that awaits critique.
Consequently, I thought that a useful way of entering the argument would be
by reflecting upon the thesis that follows (a postscript titled 'Introduction')
and an appropriate exit would be by outlining prospects arising from the
thesis ('A Beginning'). So much for the diffuse edges.
The argument amounts to a general conception of 'Liberating Systems
Theory' (,LST'): made up of two more specific conceptions, of Liberating
'Systems Theory' (L'ST' - about the liberation of systems theory) and
'Liberating Systems' Theory ('LS'T - about systems theory for liberation).
The thesis is organized in the following way.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCfION
Entering the argument
START OF ARGUMENT
SECTION 1 OF ARGUMENT - GENERAL - 'LIBERATING
SYSTEMS THEORY' (,LST')
An overview of 'system' and 'inquiry'
CHAPTER 2 LIBERATING SYSTEMS THEORY
A general conception and two specific conceptions of
Liberating Systems Theory. Four strands of study. An
overview of the argument of the book
CHAPTER 3 INTERPRETIVE ANAL YTICS AND KNOWLEDGE
CONSTITUTIVE INTERESTS: LIBERATE AND
CRITIQUE
A theory of discourse with a liberating rationale and a theory
of the relationship between logical methodological rules and
knowledge-constitutive interests. On unities opposing
universals. A meta-unity of Interpretive Analytics and
knowledge-constitutive interests
ix
x Preface
SECTION 2 OF ARGUMENT - SPECIFIC - LIBERATING
'SYSTEMS THEORY' (L'ST')
A critique of know ledges: articulation and release: against
universals
CHAP1ER 4 ON 'SYSTEM': CONCEPTUAL ANTI-REFLEXIVITY
(STRAND 1)
The idea of a great natural systemic unification of knowledge
rejected
CHAP1ER 5 ON 'SYSTEM': ABSTRACT AND PARADIGMATIC
CONCEPTIONS (STRAND 2)
Systems concepts take on differing meanings with different
rationalities. An investigation to seek out discontinuities
and breaks. An initial articulation of three rationalities and
their interpretation of 'system'
CHAPTER 6 ON 'SYSTEM': mSTORIES AND PROGRESSIONS OF
SYSTEMS TIIINKING (STRAND 3)
Discovering differing conceptions on the history and progress
of systems thinking. Liberating discourse, an example and
some ideas on legitimacies and limitations. The need for a
broad theory of legitimacies and limitations
SECTION 3 OF ARGUMENT - SPECIFIC - 'LIBERATING
SYSTEMS' THEORY (,LS'T)
A critique of know ledges: legitimacies and limitations:
against universals
CHAPTER 7 ON 'INQUIRY': SYSTEMS 'PROBLEM SOLVING'
(STRAND 4)
Establishing a complementarist vision and three
rationalities. A critique of the three rationalities in terms of
legitimacies and limitations
END OF ARGUMENT
CHAPTER 8 A BEGINNING
Exiting the argument
Some indication about how to read this volume will help the reader to
deal with the diverse nature of the content. In my view there are two
Preface xi
obvious ways. First, and perhaps the more difficult, is to focus on the
interplay between the ideas of Foucault and Habermas, which leads to a
critical theory defined by the process 'liberate knowledges' and 'critique
knowledges' to tease out their theoretical and methodological legitimacies
and limitations. This sets out a whole program of research that needs to
develop the powerful idea of the respective yet dependent roles of
Interpretive Analytics and knowledge-constitutive interests in advancing
any theory, although in the case of this book the focus is systems theory.
A second and probably easier way of reading this book is as a history of
systems thinking, and as an attempt to think out the relationship between
the different strands that have emerged. Whichever way(s) you opt for, I
hope that some value arises from your own interpretation(s).
A section at the end of this book, titled 'Terms and Concepts: Some
Critical Observations', provides support that may help the reader who has
had little exposure to social theory. This section was not misnamed
'Glossary', the latter being a misleading term which suggests a definitive or
permanent account, as opposed to the more realistic idea that at best we can
offer useful insights. 'Terms and Concepts' should help the reader to
appreciate meanings that I wish to portray.
Liberating System Theory is an epistemological argument (developing
the earlier work; Flood, 1990). The ideas appear elsewhere in a
pragmatized but not compromized form (see R L Flood and M C Jackson,
Creative Problem Solving: Total Systems Intervention, Wiley, Chichester,
1991a - briefly described in 'Terms and Concepts' and the 'Appendix'). The
epistemological issues are also dealt with in a further volume (see
R. L. Flood and M. C. Jackson, Critical Systems Thinking: Directed
Readings, Wiley, Chichester, 1991b-where authors from diverse
backgrounds contribute to a critically edited work). The reader can also
consult the learned journal Systems Practice where issues arising from this
book are discussed.
I thank the following people. For direct contributions: Werner Ulrich for
allowing me to integrate our paper, 'Testament to conversations on Critical
Systems Thinking between two systems practitioners', Systems Practice,
Volume 3 Number I, into Chapter 7; Wendy Gregory for allowing me to
integrate our paper, 'Systems: Past, present and future', and Sionade
Robinson for allowing me to integrate our paper, 'Whatever happened to
General Systems Theory?' into Chapter 6 (both otherwise appearing in
Systems Prospects, Plenum, New York, )990, R. L. Flood, M. C. Jackson
and P. Keys, eds.). Any distortions from the messages of the original works
are my own choice and responsibility.