Abstract
This is a testament to conversations held in Berne and Fribourg, Switzerland, in late 1988. The main theme that we present concerns seeking to find an adequate epistemology for systems practice, to find a “truly” critical approach, by shifting our interests from “systems science” to “systems rationality” (i.e., by “reaching out” toward a systems epistemological ideal) and by dealing with sociological phenomena such as the “effects of material conditions” and false consciousness and inequalities associated with these. Social rationalities relating to positivism, interpretivism, and critique are considered. Limitations and legitimacies of these rationalities in social contexts are made explicit in these discussions.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bertalanffy, L. Von (1968).General Systems Theory: Foundations, Development and Applications, Braziller, New York.
Checkland, P. B. (1978). The origins and nature of hard systems thinking.J. Appl. Syst. Anal. 5, 99–110.
Checkland, P. B. (1981).Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, Wiley, Chichester.
Fay, B. (1975).Social Theory and Political Practice, George Allen and Unwin, London.
Flood, R. L. (1988). The need for a substantive soft systems language.J. Appl. Syst. Anal. 15.
Flood, R. L. (1990a). Liberating Systems Theory: Toward critical systems thinking.Hum. Relat. 43, 49–76.
Flood, R. L. (1989a). Six scenarios for the future of systems “problem solving.”Syst. Pract. 2, 75–99.
Flood, R. L. (1989b). Archaeology of (systems) inquiry.Syst. Pract. 2, 117–124.
Flood, R. L. (1990b).Liberating Systems Theory on Systems and Inquiry, Plenum, New York.
Flood, R. L., and Carson, E. R. (1988).Dealing with Complexity: An Introduction to the Theory and Application of Systems Science, Plenum, New York.
Flood, R. L., and Jackson, M. C. (1989). Editorial.Syst. Pract. 2, 151–154.
Flood, R. L., and Jackson, M. C. (1990a).Creative Problem Solving Total Systems Intervention, Wiley, Chichester.
Flood, R. L., and Jackson, M. C. (1990b).Critical Systems Thinking: Directed Readings, Wiley, Chichester.
Flood, R. L., and Robinson, S. A. (1989a). Analogy and metaphor and systems and cybernetic methodologies.Cybernet. Syst. 20, 501–520.
Flood, R. L., and Robinson, S. A. (1989b). Thimbles and hope: An essay on metaphor and systems theory.Cybernet. Syst. 20, 201–214.
Habermas, J. (1971a).Knowledge and Human Interests, Bacon, Boston, Mass. (German orig. 1968).
Habermas, J. (1971b).Toward a Rational Society, Bacon, Boston, Mass. (German orig. 1968).
Jackson, M. C. (1985). The itinerary of a critical approach... “Critical Heuristics of Social Planning”:.Ulrich (book review).J. Op. Res. Soc. 36, 878–888.
Jackson, M. C. (1990). Beyond a system of systems methodologies, (under review).
Jackson, M. C. (1991).Systems Methodologies, Plenum, New York.
Lowi, T. J. (1969).The End of Liberalism, Norton, New York.
Oliga, J. (1988). Methodological foundations of systems methodologies.Syst. Pract. 1, 87–112.
Ulrich, W. (1977). The design of problem-solving systems.Manage. Sci. 23, 1099–1108.
Ulrich, W. (1980). The metaphysics of design: A Simon-Churchman “debate”.Interfaces 10(2), 35–40.
Reprinted and slightly expanded in van Gigch, J. P. (ed.) (1987).Decision Making About Decision Making: Metamodels and Metasystems, Abacus Press, Turnbridge Wells, England, 1987, pp. 219–226.
Ulrich, W. (1981a). SystemrationalitÄt ind praktische Vernunft-Gedanken zum Stand des Systemansatzes. Introduction to Churchman, C. W.,Der Systemansatz und seine “Feinde”, Haupt, Berne, Switzerland pp. 7–38.
Ulrich, W. (1981b). A critique of pure cybernetic reason: The Chilean experience with cybernetics.J. Appl. Syst. Anal. 8, 33–59.
Ulrich, W. (1983).Critical Heuristics of Social Planning: A New Approach to Practical Philosophy, Haupt, Berne, Switzerland.
Ulrich, W. (1984). Management oder die Kunst, Entscheidungen zu treffen, die andere betreffen.Die Unternehmung 38, 326–346.
Ulrich, W. (1987). Critical heuristics of social systems design.Eur. J. Op. Res. 31, 276–283.
Ulrich, W. (1988a). Systems thinking, systems practice, and practical philosophy: A program of research.Syst. Pract. 1, 137–163.
Ulrich, W. (1988b). Churchman's “process of unfolding”-its significance for policy analysis and evaluation.Syst. Pract. 1, 415–428.
Ulrich, W. (1989). Systemtheorie der Planung. In Szyperski, N. (ed.),Handwörterbuch der Planung, Poeschel, Stuttgart, Germany, columns 1971–1978.
Ulrich, W. (1991). Toward emancipatory systems practice. In Flood, R. L., and Jackson, M. C. (eds.),Critical Systems Thinking: Directed Readings, Wiley, Chichester.
Weber, M. (1949). “Objectivity” in social science and social policy. In Shills, E. A., and Fincfa, H. A. (eds.),The Methodology of the Social Sciencer, Free Press, New York, pp. 72–111.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Conversations were held in Berne and Fribourg, Switzerland, between 30 November and 5 December 1988.
Author ordering in this and our following conversations states only that the first author was responsible for drafting a discussion paper and for final editing. The authors share equal responsibility for the content and formulation of the arguments proposed in this paper.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Flood, R.L., Ulrich, W. Testament to conversations on critical systems thinking between two systems practitioners. Systems Practice 3, 7–29 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062819
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062819