Anita Kelleher
Field of reference: Interdisciplinary
Description: As the natural system approaches collapse it is sensitive and responds to small catalysts of change.
"As a way of understanding elements of the Megacrisis, it can produce useful insights but as a means of defining the Megacrisis a complex systems map might provide a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of these elements and a means to better appreciate the complexity. As Laszlo emphasizes: 'the doomsday arguments [Decline to Disaster scenario] miss a basic point: they do not recognize that humanity is also a dynamic system capable of rapid transformation. As the natural system approaches collapse it is sensitive and responds to small catalysts of change' (2008, p.15).
These small catalysts of change were described in the Tao Te Ching, as 'the ripple effect' (Heider, 1985, p.107). One small pebble dropped into a pond creates multiple ripples. One person can influence a family; one family a community; one community a nation; one nation a world. Lorenz used the term 'butterfly effect' whereby a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world and creates a tsunami elsewhere (Hilborn, 2004). The dropped pebble or the flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, creating a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations. A non-linear systems map would endeavour to identify where to drop the pebbles."
| שייך לנושאים: 1-13 - חינוך אינטגרלי, -מקורות מדעיים, הטבע, 2. הטבע כמערכת |
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