[I don’t usually share papers you can’t download without a paywall but you can get this – or a version of it, or the thinking behind it – in this book by the same author
…shared here obviously as early thinking on wholism, connection to gestalt, precursor to systems thinking etc. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andras_Angyal ]
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In attempting to clarify the problem of personality integration the writer gained the impression that the difficulty of such a task does does not lie alone in the paucity of usable factual data but it is due, even to a greater extent, to the inadequacy of our logical tools. Such a handicap is felt not only in the study of personality, but in the study of wholes in general. Here the attempt will be made to develop some concepts which may be useful for the understanding of the structure of wholes.
You can see the beautiful classic type here
https://www.jstor.org/stable/184329
Another link if you have academic access:
‘People used to say that just as the twentieth century had been the century of physics, the twenty-first century would be the century of biology… We would gradually move into a world whose prevailing paradigm was one of complexity, and whose techniques sought the co-adapted harmony of hundreds or thousands of variables. This would, inevitably, involve new technique, new vision, new models of thought, and new models of action. I believe that such a transformation is starting to occur…. To be well, we must set our sights on such a future.’
– Christopher Alexander, The Nature of Order
http://www.katarxis3.com/Introduction.htm
Use the search to find the tools you need.
Isabel Bramsen*, Ole Wæver
This article presents a Luhmann-inspired theory of conflictualization, that is, how objects, relations, and societies come to be defined by the logic of conflict. This article presents a Galtung- and Luhmann-inspired theory of conflictualization, that is, how objects, relations, and societies come to be defined by the logic of conflict. The article conceptualizes conflictualization as a threefold process of (1) forming social relationships, (2) displacing the focus toward “winning” the conflict, and (3) making an increasing number of issues into objects of contestation. It positions the concept of conflictualization in relation to contemporary (Nordic) peace research, securitization, politicization, and polarization, showing the added value of the theory in terms of teasing out how conflict “does something” and should therefore not be reduced to its causes or effects, but understood distinctly as conflict. To illustrate this, the article discusses three examples of how a society, a relationship, and an issue, respectively, are conflictualized: (1) how the Danish-Greenlandic relationship has been conflictualized, (2) how the war in Gaza has shaped social relations and conflictualized other issues like climate activism and LGBTQ+ rights across the Nordic countries, and (3) conflictualization of the Colombian society post-accord. Moreover, we discuss how conflictualization relates to agency and change, that is, the degree to which conflictualization can be seen as a deliberate process and calls for strategies of conflictualizing and de-conflictualizing issues.
25 Oct 2022|Strategy
It’s not about you. In a volatile market, brands should move away from focusing on individual product excellence alone – and instead adopt a broader framework going beyond individual offerings. By factoring in the larger network effect and needs of customers, society, ambitious partners and competitors, ecosystem thinking helps to consider broader possibilities, paving the way to a more resilient business and increased impact.
https://www.futurice.com/blog/ecosystem-thinking-value-proposition
🎥 Here’s what Linda Booth Sweeney of Toggle Labs has to say about how storytelling can nurture children to become systems thinkers. 🙌🏻
Linda is internationally recognized for her efforts to make systems thinking actionable by a wide range of audiences. She is co-author of The Systems Thinking Playbook, The Climate Change Playbook, and numerous other books and journal articles.
🔗 Learn more about Toggle Lab of Kids: https://ow.ly/hqK350XwNGK
👥 Join our global community: https://ow.ly/lVeU50XwNup
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/system-dynamics-society-inc_systemdynamics-systemsthinking-activity-7399507337813684224-Zzaj
Join us for an insightful presentation based on recent research into systems use in the public sector. We will delve into current use of systems thinking, setting out what we’ve learned about the where, when, what and how, in this fascinating and powerful area. We’ll explore practices, enablers and blockers identified, as well as different approaches across the public sector, which will allow us to reflect constructively on lessons and implications for our own practice.
This presentation will also set the stage for an open discussion on the enablers and obstacles to the broader adoption of systems thinking. We invite you to share your experiences, insights, and ideas on how we can collectively overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities.
Here are some questions to think about ahead of the discussion:
1. What barriers do you see in applying systems thinking in the public sector?
2. What opportunities do you see in applying systems thinking in the public sector?
About the Speakers:
Martin Fletcher – HM Revenue and Customs
Martin has a decade of experience in strategy and policy in HMRC and the wider government and now focuses on innovation and emerging technology policy/strategy. He recently completed a research project looking at current practices, uses, enablers and blockers to systems thinking within a public sector context.
CPD Hours: 1 Hour
When
09/12/2025 12:30 – 13:30
GMT Standard Time
Where
Online
Ray Ison, Pamela Buckle, Nam Nguyen, Rika Preiser, Philippe Vandenbroeck, Louis Klein
First published: 13 October 2025
Citations: 1
Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.
This paper reimagines the future of systems research as an enacted cybersystemic praxis that moves beyond traditional notions of systems thinking. We argue that systems research is best understood as a reflexive, embodied and situated practice that integrates systemic sensibilities, systems literacy and capabilities in (cyber)systemic co-inquiry. Drawing on insights from systems theory, cybernetics, complexity science and process philosophy, we critique the limitations of goal-seeking behaviours and advocate for a shift towards purposeful, co-inquiry-driven approaches to systems research. Our analysis foregrounds the role of conversation, relational agency and ethical responsibility in systems thinking, highlighting how systems research can be institutionalised as a dynamic practice that fosters transformative change within ongoing, conducive governance arrangements. Written from the perspective of the current executive committee (EC) members of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR), an invitation is extended via this paper to join a cybersystemic co-inquiry into the future of systems research, encouraging practitioners to engage with a meta-level praxis that enables bridging of new modes of knowing, governing and society transforming. Through this paper, we call for a renewed commitment to cybersystemic thinking that enables new forms of knowing and acting in the Anthropocene, positioning systems research as a vital practice for navigating complex global challenges.
https://synexia.substack.com/p/the-hierarchy-of-work-is-inescapable
Nov 30, 2025
https://synexia.substack.com/p/the-hierarchy-of-work-is-inescapable
437950
£42,665 – £50,495
National: £42,665-£46,765
London:£46,060-£50,495
For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Senior Executive Officer
Permanent
DEFRA – S&A – Science & Analysis
Analytical
Science
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
[This is the preprint version as it’s accessible]
18 Nov 2025
SITRA – Finnish Innovation Fund
Date Written: August 28, 2025
The current polycrisis creates fundamental anxiety and uncertainty in societies. Individuals, organizations, governments and multinational institutions are struggling with the increasingly complex and uncertain environment without a clear vision of how to govern or renew their institutions. This paper analyzes the root causes of polycrisis and provides a framework for adaptive governance at different levels of society. The framework is based on the Law of Requisite Variety and shared transformative learning processes. It provides governance principles for social innovators who develop sustainable governance solutions for the future. These principles are elaborated with a case study on the Brainport-Eindhoven innovation ecosystem.
Keywords: Complexity, Polycrisis, Governance, Cybernetics, Learning
Suggested Citation:
Hamalainen, Timo, Polycrisis: Root Causes and Governance Solutions (August 28, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5742823 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5742823
This is a Survey of resources relating to the Theme One Program I worked on all through the 1980s. The aim was to develop fundamental algorithms and data structures for integrating empirical learning with logical reasoning. I had earlier developed separate programs for basic components of those tasks, in particular, two‑level formal language learning and propositional constraint satisfaction, the latter using an extension of C.S. Peirce’s logical graphs as a syntax for propositional logic. Thus arose the question of how well it might be possible to get “empiricist” and “rationalist” modes of operation to cooperate. The long‑term vision is the implementation of an Automated Research Tool able to double as a platform for Inquiry Driven Education.
cc: FB | Theme One Program • Laws of Form • Mathstodon • Academia.edu
cc: Conceptual Graphs • Cybernetics • Structural Modeling • Systems Science
24–26 March 2026 | University of Hull
Hosted by the University of Hull Centre for Systems Studies (CSS),
Systems and Complexity in Organisation (SCiO) and The OR Society
This conference aims to do things differently, bringing together in lively debate systems academics and public and private sector systems practitioners. We’re looking for 250-word proposals for:
Introductory training sessions for the systems curious
Interactive workshops using systems thinking to address real-life predicaments
Case studies showing systems thinking in practice
Papers advancing systems theory and systems methodologies
Poster presentations demonstrating systems thinking in practice
No matter your level of experience, you’ll find sessions that challenge, inspire, and connect you to a vibrant systems community.
Preference will be given to proposals that bring together theory and practice in innovative and engaging ways suitable for a conference that combines researchers and practitioners of varying levels of experience.
Please submit via email to Systems.Conference@hull.ac.uk:
Name
Affiliation
250 Word abstract
Deadline: 12th December 2025
From Randolph Dible:
University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education
Monday 10 August – Friday 14 August 2026
184 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PQ, United Kingdom
https://lof50.com
About the Conference
Submissions for papers, panel sessions, interactive presentations, workshops, performance sessions, and creative contributions inspired by George Spencer-Brown’s work and life are now open for the Laws of Form 2026 Conference (LoF26).
Following LoF50 (2019), LoF22 (2022), and LoF24 (2024), this fourth gathering continues to expand the Laws of Form community of inquiry — bringing together thinkers, scholars, artists, scientists, engineers, and explorers from around the world.
LoF26 will take place from Monday 10 August to Friday 14 August 2026 at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. There is no charge to attend, thanks to the generous support of the Faculty and the University. The conference is organised by the Spencer-Brown Society and by West Den Haag (https://www.westdenhaag.nl).
Conference Focus
In addition to celebrating Laws of Form (1969), LoF26 invites explorations of Spencer-Brown’s broader legacy — including the calculus of indications, logic, language, consciousness, enlightenment, and the philosophical, mathematical, artistic, and scientific trajectories that have emerged from his work.
We particularly encourage contributions that engage with themes such as:
• Distinction, indication, form, and the unmarked state
• Mathematics, logic, systems theory, and cybernetics
• Poetry, literature, story and story structure
• Music, theatre, the arts
• Phenomenology, ontology, and metaphysics
• Physics, cosmology, geometry, topology
• Autopoiesis, cognition, and self-reference
• Theology, mysticism, and enlightenment
• Sociology, social systems, systems theory
• Creative and performative explorations of “form” and “distinction”
• Technological, computational, and interactive applications of LoF principles
Submissions may include theoretical, experimental, or creative work, and we welcome proposals that bridge disciplinary and stylistic boundaries.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit an extended abstract (up to 300 words). Include:
• Title
• Name(s), affiliation(s), and contact email(s)
• Preferred format (paper, panel, workshop, creative, etc.)
• Short biographical note (150 words or fewer)
• Any AV, technical, or access requirements
Send submissions as a single PDF to:
conferences@lof50.com
Subject line: LoF26 Submission – [Your Name]
Important Dates
• Submission deadline: Friday 20 February 2026
• Notification of acceptance: Friday 27 March 2026
• Conference dates: Monday 10 – Friday 14 August 2026
Format and Participation
Remote / video presentations will be available for those unable to attend in person. Presentations will be recorded and made available online courtesy of West Den Haag.
As with previous conferences, contributions may be considered for publication in Distinction: Journal of Form (College Publications Ltd) or in future volumes of the Society’s Marked States series.
Social and Cultural Events
Optional activities will include:
• Punting on the River Cam
• Evensong at King’s College Chapel
• Visit to The Eagle pub, where Crick and Watson announced the “secret of life”
Additional Opportunities
The Unknown Storyteller Award
For information on this annual £100 award for a high-quality paper submitted for publication to Distinction: Journal of Form, applying the story structure methodology outlined in Leon Conrad’s Story and Structure (2022), visit:
https://www.lof50.com/award
Support and Donations
The Laws of Form Conferences are entirely donation-based and free to attend, made possible through the generosity of sponsors, host organisations, and individual supporters.
To support the conference and its ongoing work, please visit:
https://lof50.com
Join the Spencer-Brown Society
Membership is open to all and free of charge. To join and receive updates, please visit:
https://lof50.com
Contact
For all submissions and inquiries:
conferences@lof50.com
Sincerely,
Randolph Dible,
Communications Director, Spencer-Brown Society
Systems Community of Inquiry 
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