Anthropology defines Culture as the way a society produces and reproduces. In other words is everything including fads, memes but mainly including paradigms, and it's build of values, attitudes, ideas and behaviors shared by almost the whole society. But it doesn't mean that some generalized values, attitudes, ideas or behaviors are suitable for the purpose of ensuring survival of that whole society. An Hypothesis could be that society discovers that things go backwards just when is being hardly affected and suffering big troubles and then society have the capacity to transform behaviors and make corrections to survive. There's no doubt that culture has been adaptative. But not always!!!. Think about global warming. Are we condemn ?
Kind regards On Thursday 02 November 2006 13:55, David Breecker wrote: > MessageAnd, I would add, cultural and intellectual systems in the form of > "fads," "memes," and paradigms. Which brings us back to an earlier thread > on Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions" in a nicely > self-referential fashion ;-) db > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phil Henshaw > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 7:49 PM > Subject: Re: [FRIAM] for things that work backwards, think backwards! > > > As I began to learn how to identify coherent emerging systems that were > 'out of control' , but working quite smoothly, I also began to discover > the many terms of natural language that pertain to the subject. Natural > language is not 'rigorous' but is quite 'rich' in systems knowledge. It > developed while we were immersed in natural systems as we learned to speak > about life and the world. > > As such, terms like 'critical mass' are recent but loose in their > meaning, and actually do refer to deep natural system structures that > critical thinkers still seem to be having trouble with. In that way, > natural language is a haven for talking about complex subjects that science > is not ready for. The things of the world that develop from a 'critical > mass' include civilizations, movements, snow flakes and species. > > I find a good incubator for change also requires that a critical mass > have a little quiet. It seems to be because new order begins with very > small and very delicate patterns that grow, and do not catch hold without a > rich growth medium and a period of quiet within which small things can > develop. Both of these features are fascinating to look for at the > mysterious beginnings of growth curves. > > I ran across a rather good book of common language natural systems theory > recently, a book on economics written by the great urban critic, Jane > Jacobs, called "The Nature of Economies". It may also become seen as an > excellent primer on the principles for a sustainable world. It's quite > lucid and full of emerging complex systems examples. > > > The concept of critical mass, in my opinion applies not only to > > physics, but to decision making and even to governance (I am ex-UN); > > perhaps it takes not only an inherently adaptable and rational > > governmental structure but a critical mass of staff within the > > structures and agencies who carry out their responsibilities more or > > less honestly. Critical mass can also explain why some ideas or > > movement > > explode and bring change while others do not. Conceptual catalysts > > and crisis are sometimes essential. > > Paul Paryski > 20 > Sangre de Cristo Dr. > Santa Fe, NM 87506 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >--- > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org -- Hasta pronto Alfredo Covaleda Vélez --------------------------------------------- Compre sus libros en http://www.loslibrosusados.com http://www.bibliotienda.com --------------------------------------------- ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
