Systems theory: a worldview and/or a methodology aimed at requisite holism/realism of humans' thinking, decisions and action

In: Systems research and behavioral science: the official journal of the International Federation for Systems Research, Band 24, Heft 3, S. 347-357

Abstract

AbstractMany observers find that humankind is in crisis due to lack of holism and due to too much reductionism—in human thinking, insight, decision‐making and action—caused by increasingly narrow specialization per professions and disciplines. Systems theory surfaced good five decades ago to fight this problem. But it keeps losing its battle, including in its own arena. Specialization is unavoidable, but it is frequently not enough. Good three decades of experience of this contribution's author have demonstrated that his concept of the 'dialectical system' and 'law of requisite holism/realism' can offer a response. It shows a way towards holism/realism as an overarching worldview, which is capable of providing room for many systems theories and specialized/traditional theories to work together, because they are interdependent, that is, needing each other. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.