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Socio‐technical functioning and anthropogenic crises
Author(s) -
Szántó Boris
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1743(199807/08)15:4<297::aid-sres230>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - humanity , politics , character (mathematics) , phenomenon , epistemology , mode (computer interface) , cognition , environmental ethics , sociology , psychology , computer science , political science , philosophy , law , neuroscience , mathematics , geometry , operating system
Theoretically the barriers of human evolution can be derived from the phenomenon and rules of socio‐technical functioning, its interactions with the man‐made functional environment. The analysis propounds that most conflicts and crises are of anthropogenic character. The aim of this paper is to map the crises humanity may expect in the future due to its mode of functioning and development. It is not its aim to evaluate different particular aspects of evolutionary perspectives of mankind. The irreconcilable contradictions, like the one between the self‐modifying nature of human beings and the self‐restoration capability of nature, might become barriers on the road of cognitive evolution. But even antagonistic contradictions can be bridged by creation of specific socio‐economic mechanisms. The evolutionary perspectives are epitomized and principles of politics are derived accordingly. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.