Structure/process as ontology for critical systems thinking and practice (presentation, abstract) (original) (raw)

It can be argued that there are two thin spots in the philosophical-theoretical topology of Critical Systems Thinking and Practice (a multi-paradigmatic approach to Systems study, design and intervention) [MC Jackson, et al.; 1984-2008. The first concerns the assignment of the appropriate paradigm for purpose; the second when we hop from the subjective to the objective and back; e.g., for intervention and what we might call 'reality checks.' Regardless of those who say that here, Systems (writ large) does not have an ontological/ epistemological leg to stand on, we carry on pragmatically and leave it to the philosophers to reconcile the 'what' with 'why.' I examine this deficit in Systems Theory then outline, explain and propose an ontological base for CST&P taken from the current Social Philosophies of Structure and Process and a General System theory-A System of Systems Processes [Troncale,1978[Troncale, -2008. In this ontology, the universe is an abstract 'structure-process' or 'process-structure', which contains other process-structures recursively (and may be contained). They are abstract, epistemologically and methodologically adaptable. In this world, the objective epistemologies are taken as being objective; i.e., that 'things' have an existence independent of human perception. Subjective epistemologies are considered subjectively; i.e., that which one says 'is' is dependent on the process-structure of their own thinking-brain. This ontology thus represents reconciliation and coexistence of what heretofore have been considered dualities: objectivity-subjectivity, positivist-interpretivist, and fact-concept. It moves the emphasis of concern from the existential (our 'things') to the ever-changing present; a world of actions-embodied and embedded. We are reminded that Systems tries to influence the future but can only do so by intervening in the present.