Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We live in a complex world. We have questions and face problems that
defy conventional reductionist approaches to finding answers and solutions.
This is because we find ourselves dealing with complex systems that are
dynamic, self-organizing and adaptive, while maintaining a balance between
static order and chaotic change.
The Earth, or Gaia, is such a system. So is the biosphere, and so is an ecosystem,
an economy, a business and any living organism, including homo sapiens. By
concentrating on the connections and interactions between entities, and not
things in themselves, complexity research is enabling us to grasp a better
understanding of the spontaneous, self-organizing dynamics of our world.
Complexity studies can have an enormous impact on the conduct of economics,
business and politics.
This thesis describes the characteristics of complex systems, analyzes the Earth
and its evolutionary story as a complex adaptive system, discusses how we can
harness complexity, and how through cooperating and caring we can survive and
even prosper in the world of today. A pluralistic moral 'world vision' is argued for,
founded on an ethics of universal compassion for all living things, that can lead to
responsible and pragmatic action.
As human beings, if 'He are to uplift the poor and restore and preserve the ecology
of the Earth, what will be required is a major transformation of our environmentally
destructive world economy into one that can sustain progress and human flourishing.
This will entail a change of mind and heart, a sense of global interdependence and
universal responsibility.
The challenges we face are immense. However, there are encouraging signs that
worldwide people are becoming increasingly aware of what is called for. More and
more people are showing their willingness to rise to the occasion. It is a time of
transition. It is complex, daunting, yet exciting. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons leef in 'n komplekse wêreld waarin ons gekonfronteer word met vrae en probleme
wat nie beantwoord of opgelos kan word deur middel van die gebruiklike reduksionistiese
benaderings nie. Die rede hiervoor is dat ons te make het met komplekse sisteme wat
dinamies, selforganiserend en selfaanpassend is, terwyl dit tegelykertyd 'n balans
handhaaf tussen statiese orde en chaotiese verandering.
Die aarde, of Gaia, is so 'n sisteem. Ook die biosfeer, 'n ekosisteem, 'n ekonomie, 'n
besigheid en enige lewende organisme, insluitend homo sapiens, konstitueer komplekse
sisteme. Daarom kan kompleksiteitsnavorsing, wat klem lê op die verbande en interaksies
tussen entiteite, eerder as op die entiteite self, dit vir ons moontlik maak om die spontane
en selforganiserende dinamiek van ons wêreld beter te begryp. Kompleksiteitstudies kan
dan ook 'n enorme impak hê op die manier waarop ekonomie, besigheid en politiek
beoefen word.
Hierdie tesis beskryf die eienskappe van komplekse sisteme, en analiseer die Aarde en
haar evolusionêre verhaal as 'n komplekse, selfaanpassende sisteem. Verder bespreek
dit ook hoe kompleksiteit ontgin kan word, en hoe ons deur samewerking en sorg kan
oorleef en selfs floreer in die wêreld van vandag. Op grond van 'n etiek van universele
medelye met alle lewende dinge word 'n pleidooi gelewer vir 'n pluralistiese morele
"wêreldvisie" wat kan lei tot verantwoordelike en pragmatiese optrede.
Wat egter vereis word indien ons, as mense, armoede wilophef en die ekologie van die
aarde wil herstel en handhaaf, is 'n daadwerklike transformasie van ons
omgewingsvernietigende wêreldekonomie in die rigting van 'n ekonomie wat vooruitgang
en menslike florering kan onderhou. So 'n transformasie sal 'n verandering van denke en
ingesteldheid vereis, asook 'n sin vir globale interafhanklikheid en universele
verantwoordelikheid.
Dit is duidelik dat die uitdagings wat ons moet trotseer kolossaal is. Daar is egter
bemoedigende tekens wêreldwyd wat aandui dat mense toenemend begin bewus raak
van wat vereis word. Meer en meer mense toon hul bereidwilligheid om die situasie die
hoof te bied. Dit is 'n tyd van verandering. Dit is 'n komplekse en angswekkende tyd, maar
uiteindelik tog ook 'n opwindende tyd.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53546 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Benfield, Ian Lindsay |
| Contributors | Hattingh, J. P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | [viii], 144 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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