Russell L Ackoff From Mechanistic to Systemic thinking
62,130
Published 2018-02-05
In this fascinating lecture, Ackoff states that we're in the early stages of a change of age - a period in which our worldview is transforming from one theory of reality to another.
What happens to any age is the appearance of dilemmas - problems that challenge the validity of the current worldview and cannot be solved within it. Such was the case during the Middle Ages - hence, the Renaissance. In our case, we are experiencing a shift from the Machine Age to the Systems Age.
The Machine Age was characterized by the belief in complete understandability of the universe, analysis as a method of inquiry, and cause and effect as a sufficient relationship to explain all.
The dilemma that disrupted such beliefs was systems thinking. The Machine Age began to die, Ackoff states, when we gave up the principle of understandability. Gradually, it's become accepted that there can be no complete understanding of the universe because nothing can be understood independently of its environment - all is environmentally relative. It began to be acknowledged that while analysis produces knowledge, it is synthesis that produces understanding. Furthermore, the Systems Age recognizes that cause and effect is just one way of looking at reality - there are an infinite number of ways.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:04 Concept of reality (world view) and definition of an Age
2:46 World view 1 - Renaissance
6:57 Elements leading to machine-age thinking
17:06 Summary - 3 doctrines of the machine age, Isaac Newton
19:35 Origin of the industrial revolution and some characteristics
25:34 Dilemmas that started to challenge the machine age worldview
All Comments (21)
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01:04 - Concept of reality (world view) and definition of an Age 02:46 - World view 1 - Renaissance 06:57 - Elements leading to machine age thinking 17:06 - Summary - 3 doctrines of machine age, Isaac Newton 19:35 - Origin of industrial revolution and some characteristics 25:34 - Dilemmas that started to challenge the machine age world view - (incomplete) 1:13:11 - End (there's 24 min of blank at the end)
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The Einstein of problem solving. My friend and mentor for ten years.
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Ackoff was a true philosopher at heart who changed how world is viewed !
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I had no idea what i was getting into, and i'm loving it.
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This is a VERY good lecture. His ability SYNTHESIS is profound.
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One of the most brilliant talks on systems thinking that I have come across. thank you for sharing
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This is like finding buried treasure. Outstanding lecture x
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Superb. Clarifying. Distilling. Relevant.
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Got to hear every single of his talks many times.
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Thanks for sharing. ❤
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What an amazing talk.
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This is one excellent teacher!
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Excellent talk, shows how to mesh ideas into a story to make it compelling.
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Thanks for posting this friend
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Such an amazing lecture. So many interesting concepts talked so lucidly --- changes your point of view
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Very insightful lecture. Must listen 👂 for all involved in large system design and sustenance.
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Wow! Ultimate conceptual clarity for understanding the human made possibilities to live with complexity of muscle and mind usage.
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Shook me to the bone.. by his genius ! Wow !
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Anyone who likes this should read about spiral dynamics
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I wish this channel posted more videos.
