Very Bad Wizards

217: Dropping Paradigms (Kuhn’s “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions”)

July 20, 2021

verybadwizards.com/217

I really believe that many of world’s greatest problems are caused – at least in part – by the fact that we continue to count, measure and value the wrong things in the wrong ways.

(3) Thea Snow on Twitter: “I really believe that many of world’s greatest problems are caused – at least in part – by the fact that we continue to count, measure and value the wrong things in the wrong ways.” / Twitter

John Evans is consistently a challenging presence on twitter in his role as ‘fluffbuster’, and we often more-or-less disagree. These examples (links to engineering youtube videos) are great examples of why he’s such a valuable protagonist, and always has a point.

September 2nd, 2021 | Delivery • Justice • Legitimacy Lila Wolff Communications Lead, Hands Up Mallee Rachel Fyfe Communications Manager, Dusseldorp Forum Thea Snow Director, ANZ Storytelling for Systems Change: Early insights from communities and storytellers

Storytelling for Systems Change: Early insights from communities and storytellers | Centre For Public Impact (CPI)

“Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century: The Long Historical View” – Ronald Kline

“Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century: The Long Historical View” – Ronald Kline | Norbert Wiener Learning Center

Navigating Uncertainty – Pioneering Habits of Mind by Sonja Blignaut – Wardley Maps BarCamp 2020

Navigating Uncertainty – Pioneering Habits of Mind by Sonja Blignaut – Wardley Maps BarCamp 2020 – YouTube

Using Systems Thinking to Make Critical Key Decisions Published: September 1, 2021 Topics: Systems Change Education leaders at the district, state and federal levels have all been grappling with systemic disruptions. How can education leaders navigate disruptions and potential disruptions with systems thinking?

Using Systems Thinking to Make Critical Key Decisions | KnowledgeWorks

I was very much expecting to say ‘ho hum, another systems dynamics thing’ – and the heart of this is systems dynamics, but I rather like this – a very good introduction and sensible, practical stuff.

Guidebook on systems thinking for educators (pdf):

http://knowledgeworks.org/resources/education-changemakers-guidebook-systems-thinking/

Handbook on Cities and Complexity

Handbook on Cities and Complexity

Handbook on Cities and Complexity

Research Handbooks in Urban Studies series

Edited by Juval Portugali, Professor of Human Geography, Department of Geography and the Human Environment, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Publication Date: September 2021 

ISBN: 978 1 78990 011 8 

Extent: 456 pp

Written by some of the founders of complexity theory and complexity theories of cities (CTC), this Handbook expertly guides the reader through over forty years of intertwined developments: the emergence of general theories of complex self-organized systems and the consequent emergence of CTC. 

Facilitating for Emergence: A Conversation with Adam Kahane

Facilitating for Emergence: A Conversation with Adam Kahane | Si Network

Joanne DongToronto Hub RepresentativeEvent

Facilitating for Emergence: A Conversation with Adam Kahane

Wed, October 6, 4:00pm – 5:00pm BST

How to affect change in a complex system where you are part of a process or a discussion and yet without getting directly involved in the process or discussion yourself? How do you know when to listen and observe or engage and intervene, when to seek consensus or live with disagreements, when to stay on course or experiment and explore new paths, and when to command and control or accompany and serve?

Join us to explore these questions in a conversation with Adam Kahane. Adam is the author of five books. In this conversation, we will dive into his latest book, Facilitating Breakthrough: How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together. The conversation will be facilitated by Joanne Dong from Systems Innovation Toronto Hub.

This conversation is for anyone who helps people work together to transform their situation, be it a professional facilitator, manager, consultant, coach, chairperson, organizer, mediator, stakeholder, or friend.

Adam Kahane is a director of Reos Partners, an international social enterprise that helps people move forward together on their most important and intractable issues. He is a leading organizer, designer, and facilitator of processes through which business, government, and civil society leaders can work together to address challenges.

Adam has worked in more than fifty countries and in every part of the world, with executives, politicians, generals, guerrillas, civil servants, trade unionists, community activists, United Nations officials, clergy, and artists.

Learn more about Adam at Reos Partners and find him on Twitter @adamkahane.

Launch: Halogen’s Playbook for Systemic Innovation

Launch: Halogen’s Playbook for Systemic Innovation – YouTube

Kittens are Evil II: Six leading systems thinkers pitch their big idea

Kittens are Evil II: Six leading systems thinkers pitch their big idea Tickets, Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

OCT 14

Kittens are Evil II: Six leading systems thinkers pitch their big idea

by Little Heresies, Northumbria University

Event Information

Kittens are Evil II Book Launch. Six leading systems thinkers pitch their big idea.

About this event

On Zoom

FREE event but registration is essential

Six leading heretics answer the question ‘You bump into Michael Gove in a nightclub. After posing for a selfie he offers to buy you a drink. You tell him what you do and he asks if you have any policy ideas. What is your pitch?

Join us for the launch of Kittens are Evil II and hear from six heretics who have contributed chapters to the Kittens are Evil books.

Six Speakers:

• Kathy Evans, CEO of Children England
• Toby Lowe, Professor in Public Management at the Centre for Public Impact
• Simon Guilfoyle, police inspector and systems thinker
• Cathy Hobbs, time-served devotee of local government and critical systems thinker
• Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public Management at the University of Birmingham
• Peter Wright, Convenor, North East Public Health Skunkworks

Two Convenors:

• Rob Wilson, Professor at Northumbria University and Editor of Kittens are Evil II
• Charlotte Pell, Visiting Fellow at Northumbria University, Editor of Kittens are Evil II and Head of Communications at Vanguard Consulting

One Brilliant Book, Kittens are Evil II:

Since our last Little Heresy seminar, much has changed. There have been positives – the unthinkable has become doable in times of crisis. Once insurmountable organisational barriers have disappeared. There have been negatives; a proliferation of dodgy evidence, a focus on targets over the truth, outsourcing to private sector providers with dubious track records, and a top-down approach from government.

Explore alternative ways of designing public services and public policy in this collection of work from nine leading thinkers and practitioners in their fields.

The Book Authors:

• Anton Hemerijck is Professor of Political Science: European University Institute, Florence Centennial Professor of Social Policy: LSE
• Mark Smith is Director of Public Service Reform, Gateshead Council
• Peter Wright is Convenor, North East Public Health SkunkWorks
• Catherine Hobbs has completed her doctoral research at the University of Hull on learning for systemic leadership in local governance networks.
• ​The late Richard Davis who worked for Vanguard Consulting.
• Catherine Needham is Professor of Public Policy and Public Management, University of Birmingham
• Jake Hayman is CEO, Ten Years’ Time
• Stephen Lock is Head of Business Intelligence, National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network
• Vincent Richardson and Alan Peyton are Supporters of Positive Money

Value(s): Taking a Systems/COR Critical Perspective

(PDF) Value(s): Taking a Systems/COR Critical Perspective

Value(s): Taking a Systems/COR Critical Perspective

• September 2021

DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.21111.14249

• Conference: OR63 63rd Annual UK Operational Research Conference

• Project: Business with Purpose

Authors:

Miles Weaver

• Edinburgh Napier University

Hock Tan

• Edinburgh Napier University

Download file PDFDownload citationCopy link

Abstract

Mark Carney – the former Governor of the Bank of England calls for a new kind of economics and attacks the prevalent neo-liberal paradigm, in his 2021 book, Value(s) Building a Better World for All. Echoing the Financial Times attempts to “reset capitalism”, arguing for stakeholder capitalism and businesses putting “purpose beyond profit”. This narrative is gaining traction as the world seeks to “build back better” following a global pandemic; in light of a climate emergency and recognition that we are in our final decade for action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this session, the authors review Mark Carney’s proposition of Value(s) and suggest the need for clarity to distinguish between the concept of ‘value’ and how this is created by putting ‘values’ into action. Particularly, in light of Midgley, Johnson and Chichirau (2017) clarification that Community Operational Research concerns the meaningful engagement of communities and highlighting of more recent COR applications in a business context. It is also important to note the importance placed by the United Nations on ‘Systems Thinking’ being a core skill to build capacity and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Recognising competing objectives and multiple different perspectives of differing problem situation(s) from multiple stakeholders. The Sustainability challenge is our ultimate wicked problem. The authors argue to build capacity for sustainability, particularly in supporting business to balance purpose with profit in stakeholder relationships, there is a need to review systems and systemic approaches for attaining the SDGs across partnerships (See Weaver, Tan and Crossan, 2020 for a review of approaches in this context). This includes revisiting Checkland and others ‘underlying systems concept’ and approaches such as boundary critique and Critical Systems Heuristics that can help to distinguish value and boundary judgements, plus methods that can help bring about intervention (e.g. SSM, Systemic Intervention, Theory U).

book at:

President’s Series 12 Cybernetics, Cognitive Science and Philosophy Tickets, Wed 13 Oct 2021 at 17:00 | Eventbrite

OCT 13

President’s Series 12 Cybernetics, Cognitive Science and Philosophy

by Cybernetics Society — President’s Series

£0 – £20

Event Information

Joe Dewhurst explores cybernetics and cognitive science while Carl Sachs discusses Wilfred Sellars as Philosopher of Cybernetics

About this event

Hosted by our President, Dr. John Beckford FCybS, the CybSights President’s Series is a new programme that will bring interesting people together to explore the relevance and contribution of cybernetics to addressing important challenges.

Each event will consist of contributions by two different speakers. Each will be followed by individual Q&A. These are then brought together by the President in a lively and engaging plenary discussion. Each will seek areas of convergence and divergence between the ideas explored.

Events will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 1700 to 1900.

Meetings are open to members of the Cybernetics Society and also the general public. Non-members are invited to join or give a donation. Booking is required.

The Cybernetics Society has been hosting conversations and lectures since the late 1960s.

Computers With Bodies: The Contemporary Impact of Cybernetic Approaches in Cognitive Science

The cybernetics movement included many key founding figures of what would eventually become known as cognitive science. Despite this connection, the cybernetic origins of cognitive science are often downplayed in accounts of the discipline’s history, and it is only relatively recently that cybernetic principles have come to be seen as once again relevant to contemporary cognitive science. This paper will consider the contemporary impact of cybernetics in two distinct streams of cognitive scientific research, namely computation and embodiment, and then explore some ways in which these two streams can fruitfully collaborate with one another.

Joe Dewhurst

Joe is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, where he works on topics to do with computation, mechanistic explanation, and more recently formal approaches to causation and emergence in complex systems. His doctoral research at the University of Edinburgh looked at the relationship between common-sense intuitions and scientific theories in contemporary cognitive science, and he worked at Edinburgh as a Teaching Assistant before moving to Munich in 2018. In his spare time Joe designs and develops simulation boardgames, and is interested in parallels between scientific modelling and the use of boardgames to model real-world situations.

Wilfrid Sellars as Philosopher of Cybernetics

The American philosopher Wilfrid Sellars often uses examples of guided missiles or robots in his speculative scientific metaphysics of mind, but few have noticed that he is implicitly referring to cybernetics when he does so. I shall argue that Sellars’s use of cybernetic examples shows that he was probably familiar with cybernetic ideas from Wiener, Ashby, and Wisdom. In this light we can better understand why Sellars uses the kind of examples that he does. I will also argue that Sellars should have discovered second-order cybernetics and why he failed to do so.

Carl Sachs

Carl is currently associate professor of philosophy at Marymount University (USA), where he works on American pragmatism, the Frankfurt School of critical theory, and philosophy of mind. His first book, Intentionality and the Myths of the Given (Routledge 2014) integrated Sellars’s linguistic account of discursive intentionality with Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of embodied intentionality. He is currently writing a second book on Wilfrid Sellars as a philosopher at the intersection of German Idealism, American pragmatism, cybernetics, and philosophy of cognitive science. In his spare time he cooks, bakes, and exercises.

Plenary Discussion

The aim of this session, moderated by John Beckford, is to draw out the complementary and competing ideas emerging from the two sessions.

Dr. John Beckford, FCybS, President of the Cybernetics Society

John Beckford is a board member of WOSC, a partner in Beckford Consulting, Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Rise Mutual CIC, a Non-Executive Director of both Fusion21 and CoreHaus (social enterprises) and Visiting Professor in both the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at University College London and the Centre for Information Management, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University. John holds a PhD in cybernetics from the University of Hull, is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and of the Royal Society for the Arts and a Member of the Institute of Management Services.

book at

President’s Series 12 Cybernetics, Cognitive Science and Philosophy Tickets, Wed 13 Oct 2021 at 17:00 | Eventbrite