The Institute for 21st Century Agoras’ Monograph Series
Kenneth C. Bausch, Ph.D., editor
This monograph series provides a forum for presenting case studies in the application of several major scientific innovations which are reshaping approaches for understanding and guiding complex social systems:
• Third Phase Science
• Archanesian Geometry
• Abductive (Retroductive) Reasoning
• Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM)
• Dialogic Design Science (DDS)
• Structured Dialogic Design (SDD™)
Each monograph is centered upon a specific case study, and that case study is subsequently considered from multiple perspectives. Perspectives are drawn from individuals who have some first-hand experience in the domain of the case under study or who have deep generic understanding of one or more of the sciences that have been applied in the case study. The overarching goal of the monograph is to provide a means for experiences gained from within an arena of human systems practice to feedback and inform a corpus of scholarly understanding that may promote the evolution of the sciences for working with complex human systems. The inspiration for this monograph can be traced to the Domain of Science model authored by Professor John N. Warfield in 1986. In this model, a cyclic flow of understanding links theory to practice through a science that shapes methodologies that are applied in the arena. The critical link, that is the link back from the arena of practitioners back to the halls of scholarly reflection, is the least visible connection in this cycle. Only through a forum which promotes reflection on specific first-hand accounts of the application of specific methodologies in the arena can a scientific community hope to advance its art. This is the aspiration of the AGORAS monograph on “A Social Systems Approach to Global Problems.”
The monograph title does not wish to suggest that our cases studies in the application of essential sciences for understanding and guiding complex human systems should be limited to actions taken only on a global scale, but rather seeks to affirm that actions which are taken at a local scale have the potential to shape responses to problems that are experienced globally.
[Warfield, JN, 1986. The Domain of Science Model: Evolution and Design, Proc. 30th Ann’l. Mtg., Society for General Systems Research, Salinas: Intersystems, 1986, H46-H59.]
VOLUMES:
V1: Strategic articulation of actions to cope with the huge challenges of our world today