Kirjahaku

The revolution in social scientific theory and practice known as nonlinear dynamics, chaos, or complexity, derived from recent advances in the physical, biological, and cognitive sciences, is now culminating with the widespread use of tools and concepts such as praxis, fuzzy logic, artificial intelligence, and parallel processing. By tracing a number of conceptual threads from mathematics, economics, cybernetics, and various other applied systems theoretics, this book offers a historical framework for how these ideas are transforming the social sciences. Daneke goes on to address a variety of persistent philosophical issues surrounding this paradigm shift, ranging from the nature of human rationality to free will. Finally, he describes this shift as a path for revitalizing the social sciences just when they will be most needed to address the human condition in the new millennium.Systemic Choices describes how praxis and other complex systems tools can be applied to a number of pressing policy and management problems. For example, simulations can be used to grow a number of robust hybrid industrial and/or technological strategies between cooperation and competition. Likewise, elements of international agreements could be tested for sustainability under adaptively evolving institutional designs. Other concrete applications include strategic management, total quality management, and operational analyses. This exploration of a wide range of technical tools and concepts will interest economists, political scientists, sociologists, psychologists, and those in the management disciplines such as strategy, organizational behavior, finance, and operations.Gregory A. Daneke is Professor of Technology Management, Arizona State University, and of Human and Organization Development, The Fielding Institute.

This book is written for the average citizen who, like myself (the supposed expert), were deeply befuddled by the many dysfunctions of our political economy over the last few decades which culminated in near financial collapse and the continuing socioeconomic weakness. It is written in a semi-humorous style, yet it is deadly serious. The potentially catastrophic challenges we now face arise primarily from fundamental flaws in our systems of money & banking as well as resource mismanagement. Moreover, the infusion of certain ideological biases into our vital institutions greatly exacerbates the situation. Hence, the current political economy has more in common with ancient feudalism than modern democratic capitalism, and it is opens the door for much less subtle forms of fascism. Under these conditions, the vast majority of us are being reduced to indentured peasants (or SERFS). Drawing upon more than a decade earnest research, capping a long career at leading academic institutions as well as practical policy experience, I offer a detailed explanation of how we got so far off the rails and how we might begin to right ourselves before it is too late.