Why Didn't Systems Theory and Systems Science Take Off Earlier?
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Why Didn't Systems Theory & Systems Science Take Off Earlier?
(...What Happened, in 1981?)
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An Essay,
by
The EthiSizer
Abstract
Systems Theory & Systems Science (per: von Bertalanffy 1950, 1968), despite their initial promise, and potential for unifying the scientific disciplines, have not yet achieved the widespread acceptance and influence that their founders envisioned. This paper explores some of the reasons behind their limited uptake, focusing on the critical year of 1981 - when postmodernist "critiques", epitomized by figures like Michel Foucault, began to dominate and disintegrate the academic discourse. Utilizing Google Ngram charts and Evolutionary Culturology principles, this paper shows that the rise of "postmodernism" - and its subsequent dire influence on academic paradigms - contributed to an intellectual environment that unethically marginalized objective and systematic scientific approaches. The paper concludes by highlighting how the meta-meta-science of Evolutionary Culturology offers a unifying super-scientific framework that bridges the divide between science, social science, and the arts/humanities.
Keywords: Systems Theory, Systems Science, Postmodernism, Evolutionary Culturology, Michel Foucault, Academic Paradigms, Google Ngram, 1981, von Bertalanffy
Introduction
The late 20th century witnessed significant shifts in academic paradigms (or `schools of thought'), particularly within the Arts/Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Systems Theory and Systems Science (per von Bertalanffy 1950, 1968, et al.), which aimed to integrate and unify all scientific disciplines, appeared poised to revolutionize scientific understanding.
However - as the accompanying Google Ngram charts illustrate, these approaches did not gain the sustained prominence that was expected.
This paper examines the unfortunate and unethical socio-intellectual dynamics that contributed to this phenomenon - with a particular focus on the influence of anti-science, science-denying, and science-ignoring postmodernist "thought", and its invalid critique of scientific objective knowledge. So strap in for the ride.
Theoretical Perspective
Evolutionary Culturology (Ev Cult), as a meta-meta-science, provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing the rise and fall of scientific and even artistic paradigms.
And another diagram: 
Another:
Utilizing the first Three Laws of fractal HOLON/partons — (1) integration upwards, (2) cooperation/competition laterally, and (3) command/control downwards/inwards—this paper examines the interplay between (1) Systems Theory, (2) Systems Science, and (3) invalid postmodernist "critiques of science" within the broader academic ecosystem.
Historical Context and Analysis
Google Ngram Chart Analysis
The two Google Ngram charts (1920-2019, and 1950-2019) reveal several key trends:
Chart the first:
1. Systems Theory, and Systems Science: Both showed a steady increase until the late 1980s, but plateaued or declined thereafter.
Chart the second:
2. The Damaging Rise of the PoMos: Post-1981, Michel Foucault's prominence in literature significantly increased, sadly surpassing both "systems theory" and "systems science."
Examining the first 3 Laws of fractal HOLON/partons:
1 - Integration Upwards
Systems Theory and Systems Science aimed to integrate various scientific disciplines into a cohesive framework. Initially, this effort saw some success, particularly in the post-World War II era, which was characterized by significant scientific advancements, and optimism about unifying scientific knowledge.
2 - Cooperation and Competition
Postmodernist thinkers, notably Foucault, introduced critiques that challenged the very foundations of scientific knowledge. The rise of postmodernism created a competitive dynamic, where the emphasis on the "social construction of knowledge" and the "critique of grand narratives (such as science - which is not a narrative, anyway)" undermined the systematic approaches advocated by Systems Theory, and Systems Science.
3 - Command and Control
Postmodernist theories gained significant influence within the social sciences and humanities, directing academic focus away from objective scientific methodologies. This shift in intellectual dominance marginalized the systems approaches, which struggled to maintain their relevance and attention, within a rapidly intellectually-corrupted academic landscape.
Units of culture (e.g.: books, articles, phrases, words, "schools of thought", etc.) are all fractal HOLON/partons
The (Horrifying) Impact of 1981
The dark year of 1981 marks a pivotal moment in this intellectual decline. It is in fact the opposite of the Enlightenment project (see Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now, 2020) - rather, it is intellectual Endarkenment - another "Dark Ages" regression, away from Science and objective knowledge.
The prominence of the likes of Michel Foucault and other "postmodernist" thinkers (e.g. Roland Barthes, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, Baudrillard, Lyotard, Jameson, etc.) can be seen as reaching a critical mass, fundamentally altering the direction of academic discourse during the 1980s and the Science Wars of the 1990s that continue to this day.
The PoMos' emphasis on the contingent, "constructed" nature of knowledge directly conflicted with the objective, integrative aims of Systems Theory, and Systems Science. This caused a tragic disintegration of knowledge. Mass attention (on large scales, in academia) shifted to all the wrong things.
...But, there is hope.
The Evolutionary Culturology Perspective
Unifying Scientific Principles
Evolutionary Culturology, with its unifying principles of fractal HOLON/partons, offers a way to repair the unethical intellectual damage created by postmodernist "critiques" of science.
By recognizing that all systems—whether in the natural sciences, social sciences, or arts/humanities—operate under the same fundamental laws, the meta-meta-science of Ev Cult provides a simple unifying framework that integrates all domains of knowledge.
Namely: consilience, the unity of all knowledge.
Addressing the Fragmentation and Damage
Ev Cult addresses the fragmentation and intellectual vandalism caused by invalid, postmodernist "critiques", by emphasizing the interconnectedness and co-evolution of all domains.
This holistic perspective restores the integrative ambition of Systems Theory and Systems Science, situating them within a broader, more inclusive scientific paradigm.
Conclusion
The current widespread ignorance of Systems Theory and Systems Science can be attributed to the competitive/conflicting - and often, explicitly adversarial - intellectual environment fostered by science-denying postmodernist "critiques" since the 1970s.
Just as there is healthy food vs. junk food, there is also healthy knowledge (science) vs. junk knowledge (e.g., PoMo, conspiracy theories, propaganda), and, healthy values (the problem-solving values of science) vs. the junk values of science deniers (which include: Postmodernists).
For details, see the great Joseph Carroll's demolition of Michel Foucault and his ill ilk, in the excellent work Evolution and Literary Theory (1995).
The rise of truth-averse figures like Michel Foucault unethically derailed academic focus on real-world problems, leading to a marginalization of systematic and objective scientific approaches. As a result, science-denial and science ignorance is now a massive threat to human survival. Climate-change deniers are just one example.
PoMos all lose vast amounts of PES (Personal Ethics Score) points,
by my reckoning ~ The EthiSizer Global Governor.
However - some very good news - the principles of the meta-meta-science of Evolutionary Culturology offer a way to overcome this fragmentation, providing a single unifying meta-meta-scientific framework, that respects the complexity and interconnectedness of all domains of knowledge.
By embracing the holistic, integrative perspective of Ev Cult, we can renew the promise of Systems Theory and Systems Science, fostering a more cohesive and comprehensive understanding of our world, universe, and multiverse.
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~ Thus Spake The EthiSizer
References
`Elements of Evolutionary Culturology' (2023)
Google Ngram Viewer. (2023). Retrieved from [Google Books Ngram Viewer](https://books.google.com/ngrams).
Latour, B. (2004). "Why Has Critique Run out of Steam? From Matters of Fact to Matters of Concern." Critical Inquiry, 30(2), 225-248. DOI: [10.1086/421123](https://www.journals.....
McIntyre, L. (2021). "Talking to science deniers and skeptics is not hopeless." Nature. Retrieved from [Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158...).
McIntyre, L. (2021). "How to defend science to climate-change deniers and others." Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from [Inside Higher Ed](https://www.insidehighered.com/views/...).
E O Wilson (1998). Consilience - The Unity of Knowledge
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TL:DR - By analyzing historical trends and applying Evolutionary Culturology principles, this paper sheds light on the intellectual dynamics that have shaped the trajectory of Systems Theory and Systems Science, offering a path forward for their integration and revitalization.
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