——— Forwarded message ———
Date: Sun, 17 Sept 2023 at 15:56
Subject: Finding the clues to re-empowering local agency in the interstitial spaces of systems thinking, edge of chaos, and holistic perspective.
To: Claudius van Wyk <claudiusvanwyk@gmail.com>

Ολος

The Holos Project: Supporting a global shift to the holistic perspective and practice

Dear friends
Friday 15th, in presenting my paper on the challenges of ‘transitioning to a sustainable world’ to a UK Systems Society conference at Portsmouth University on-line, my computer crashed whilst on Zoom halfway through my presentation. I’ll be offering this presentation again on-line on Thursday 21 September @ 19h00 CET. Please reply for zoom link.

The title:
The Challenge of Transitioning to a Sustainable World  – Finding Clues to Overcome Barriers in the Interstitial Spaces Between Systems Thinking, Edge of Chaos, and the Holistic Perspective.  

The abstract:  

This explorative foray considers a South African test case as a potential illustration of transforming conventional systems thinking to more encompassing holistic systems practice. In charting the course towards a sustainable world, a hidden obstacle is examined—the inclination towards prediction and control that often accompanies the mechanistic application of linear systems mapping. This recognition serves as a pivotal turning point. By embracing the concept of ’emergence’ as a product of the synthetic tendencies inherent in living systems, holistic systems practice redirects its focus toward steering the regenerative forces of life at the local level.

A transformative epistemological framework embracing ‘edge of chaos’ is presented. In the delicate balance between the extremes of equilibrium and chaos, ‘edge of chaos’ is the fertile ground for engaging with emergence. With this process-oriented perspective, holistic systems practitioners can develop  enhanced ability for adaptive problem-solving. Attention shifts from isolated components to the intricate dance of processes, reframing interventions from the pursuit of fixed ‘solutions’ to the nurturing of regenerative cultures.

Further potential illumination emerges from the interstitial spaces that lie in a Venn diagram at the intersection of systems thinking, ‘edge of chaos,’ and the holistic perspective. These insights might empower individuals with further agility and agency for adaptation. By embracing collaborative engagement with emergence, autopoiesis, as the self-sustaining nature of living systems, is catalysed. As practitioners acknowledge their integral role within the systems they influence, they might pivot from theoretical problem-solving to immersive participation. Entering more deeply into the state of ‘interbeing’, heightened sensitivity can unlock the inherent intelligence and purposefulness of localised systems. Consequently, efforts evolve towards a harmonious collaboration with these systems, propelling their continued growth and evolution.

Keywords:

Edge of Chaos, Holistic Systems Practice, Interstitial Spaces, Epistemology, Ontology, Autopoiesis, Regenerative Cultures, Interbeing

Invitation: Holos Earth Project is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Transitioning to a sustainable world? Time: Sep 21, 2023 19:00 Madrid. Please reply to Claudius for zoom link.