On Complexity (Advances in Systems Theory, Complexity, and the Human Sciences)

In this volume of key essays Morin turns his attention to the technical and philosophical underpinnings of complexity theory and applies it to a wide-ranging number of issues. These essays will certainly stimulate the critical debate within complexity circles, but is also essential reading for anybody interested in our complex world and how to live in it.

Contents: Foreword: Edgar Morin's Path of Complexity, Alfonso Montuori. BLIND INTELLIGENCE. Becoming Aware. The Pathology of Knowing, Blind Intelligence. The Need for Complex Thought. COMPLEX PATTERN AND DESIGN. Indo-America. Systems Theory. Open Systems. Information/Organization. Organization. Self-organization. Complexity. Subject and Object. Coherence and Epistemological Opening. Scienza Nuova. For a Unity of Science. Integration of the Realities Banished by Classical Science. Beyond Classical Either/Or Alternatives. The Paradigmatic Turning Point. THE PARADIGM OF COMPLEXITY. The Paradigm of Simplicity. Order and Disorder in the Universe. Self-organization. Autonomy. Complexity and completeness. Reason, rationality and rationalization. The Necessity of Macro-concepts. Three Principles. Toward Complexity. COMPLEXITY AND ACTION. Action Is Also a Wager. Action Escapes our Intentions. The Non-trivial Machine. Preparing for the Unexpected. COMPLEXITY AND THE ENTERPRISE. Three Causalities. From Self-organization to Self-eco-organization. To Live and Make a Deal with Disorder. Strategy, Program, and Organization. Complementary and Antagonistic Relations. The Necessity for a Lived Solidarity. ON THE NOTION OF THE SUBJECT, translated by Sean M. Kelly. THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF COMPLEXITY, translated by Sean M. Kelly. Appendix 1: The Concept of System, translated by Sean M. Kelly. Appendix 2: A New Science of Autonomy. Notes. Author Index