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Linguistic adjustments: precursors to understanding complexity
Author(s) -
Warfield John N.
Publication year - 2004
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/sres.601
Subject(s) - dysfunctional family , work (physics) , set (abstract data type) , component (thermodynamics) , state (computer science) , computer science , linguistics , sociology , cognitive science , psychology , engineering , philosophy , programming language , mechanical engineering , physics , psychotherapist , thermodynamics
There is no well‐accepted, coherent language of systems science founded in correlated theoretical and empirical results that enables it to fill the requirements for people to work with complexity. A set of linguistic adjustments is proposed as a way of moving from the present state of the language toward a sorely needed, functional state of discursivity. The goal is to achieve a linguistic state of systems science that is commensurate with the needs of applications in many locales to redesign dysfunctional systems, both small and large, in society. A six‐component strategy for achieving this goal is described. The development of discursivity along the proposed lines is keyed to this strategy. Acceptance of these linguistic adjustments could do for systems science what Lavoisier did for chemistry over 200 years ago. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.