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Limits to societal systems adaptability
Author(s) -
De Greene Kenyon B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830260203
Subject(s) - adaptability , prima facie , normative , living systems , social system , field (mathematics) , management science , human systems engineering , computer science , natural (archaeology) , complex system , epistemology , cognitive science , risk analysis (engineering) , sociology , psychology , artificial intelligence , engineering , economics , business , management , biology , mathematics , paleontology , philosophy , pure mathematics
Two recent theoretic approaches in physical science are reviewed briefly with an eye toward obtaining constructs applicable to the evolution and adaptability of living systems at the organizational, societal, and supranational levels. These approaches are the modern field theory of critical phenomena in physics and the theory of fluctuations and self‐organization of physical‐chemical systems far from equilibrium. A number of major constructs, generalizable to both nonliving and living systems, are identified. These constructs are applied prima facie to the description of biological, behavioral, and social phenomena and processes. Some characteristics of the world‐system field in the next two decades are envisioned. Several situations that can limit societal systems adaptability are discussed. The distinction between natural societal evolution and human desires and ability for regulation and control is stressed. Knowledge and decisional requirements for long‐range planning for a normative evolution are briefly discussed. An attempt is made to convey the need for urgency in dealing with these matters.