Human system inquiry about sustainable development: A proposal for a systemic
methodology of inquiry [Charles Francois, ISSS 1998 Paper Session, July
20/98]
These notes are a rough transcription,
prepared as each individual presenter and/or commentator spoke at the ISSS
1998 conference. Gaps and errors have likely occurred. For more accurate
citations, please consult the original presenters. These notes have been
contributed to the ISSS by David Ing, of the IBM Advanced Business Institute
(sabi@systemicbusiness.org).
[Paper session, July 20/98, 5:10 p.m.]
Charles Francois, ISSS Argentine National Division
Using systems concepts to understand how system "really" are, not how
they should be
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"Really" means trying to get to come to some consensus.
One method of coming to consensus is to use systems concepts.
1. Sustainability is dependent on the stable carrying capacity of the
supporting ecosystem.
2. Carrying capacity of the supporting ecosystem depends on the technological
ability.
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e.g. agrarian society limit.
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We are using more resources, although we have "better" techniques.
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"Better" means faster, but is this better?
3. Old ecosystems were villages, now we have a planetary ecosystem.
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e.g. change in atmosphere.
Need ways and means to evaluate the global and local limits to quantitative
development, and the possibilities for a more conservable environment:
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e.g. recycling, converting an open system to a closed system.
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Includes an inquiry about from plundering techniques of exploitation of
shrinking resources.
Systemic models related to various rates of growth (exponential, logistic)
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Need to understand autopoesis, uncompensated positive feedback.
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