cybsys@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (01/10/90)
ISSS - CALL FOR PAPERS
34TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE SYSTEMS SCIENCES
PORTLAND, OREGON 8-13 JULY, 1990
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS JANUARY 20 1990 (FIRM)
The following sessions will be held, details follow:
1. CHAOS AND NONLINEAR DYNAMICS
2. DESIGNING EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
3. ECOLOGICAL HIERARCHIES
4. EMERGENCE AND EVOLUTION
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING
6. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
7. INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS APPLICATIONS
8. INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN
9. LIBERATING SYSTEMS THEORY
10. MARXIST COMMUNISM AND WESTERNP STYLE CAPITALISM
11. METAMODELING AND SYSTEM EPISTEMOLOGY
12. NONEQUILIBRIUM AND NONLINEAR PHENOMENA IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
13. ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSDISCIPLINARY THEORY
14. SYMBOLS AND DYNAMICS
15. SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY/PSYCHIATRY
16. THE SEARCH FOR SHARED SYSTEMS PROCESSES AND METHODS:
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND HUMAN APPLICATION SCIENCES
1. CHAOS AND NONLINEAR DYNAMICS
One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been
the development of new analytical tools to apply to what Simon has
called the "sciences of complexity". The application of chaos theory,
fractal geometry and nonlinear dynamics, more generally through the
vechicle of the modern computer, has made possible the crossing of what
Pagels has called the "complexity barrier" and has great promise for the
present and future study of complex dynamic systems and helping
integrative disciplines emerge.
In conjunction with a planned symposium, papers and/or posters
are invited on this subject, especially with regard to application to
fields such as biology, environmental issues, brain sciences, economics
and/or examples of how such approaches help to discover isomorphies
between apparently disparate phenomena.
(Abstracts to: Arnold Mandell, Laboratory of Biological Dynamics and
Theoretical Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
92093 USA, or to Bruce Weber, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634 USA).
2. DESIGNING EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
The series of sessions within this program area are planned to
reflect this year's "Designing Just Systems for Future Generations"
theme. The following list is not intended to be limiting. Instead it
will hopefully stimulate thinking about possible topics for papers:
-Methods for designing education systems
-Models or designs of new educational systems
-Developing competence in the design of educational systems
-Developing new "stories of education" that account for future
generation
-Redefining the outcomes and services of educational systems
-Criteria for evaluating the "justness" of educational systems
-The politics of designing new educational systems
We plan to begin the educational theme program with a symposium
that will contribute to the larger agenda. We are also considering
something new P organizing a culminating session to summarize the key
issues and concepts presented in the various paper sessions.
(Abstracts to: C. Lynn Jenks, Director, Center for Educational Design,
Far West Laboratory, 1855 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 949103 USA).
3. ECOLOGICAL HIERARCHIES:
A Revolution for Ecology, an Arena for Hierarchy Theory
In recent years, practicing ecologists have used hierarchy
theory to revolutionize their field. This session is an opportunity for
ecologists and other hierarchists to explore the results of this
expanded theoretical view. It is expected that some presenters will
give ecology the broadest possible meaning, while others will be
ecologists in the strict disciplinary sense, reaching to a broader
meaning of ecology from a strong base that has accrued from the actual
application of hierarchy theory in the field.
(Abstracts to: T.F.H. Allen, Department of Botany, Birge Hall,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53076 USA, Phone: (608) 255-1985,
FAX: (608) 262-7509).
4. EMERGENCE AND EVOLUTION
This series of paper sessions and workshops will run over a two
day period following a symposium designed to set the stage. As with
last year's cutting-edge session, many prominent researchers in the
field are expected to attend. In an effort to understand and identify
general principles, laws and patterns "evolution" is defined in this
endeavor in the most general way as change in matter/energy over time.
Thus we seek relationships, continuities, and isomorphies between
physical, chemical, biological, and cultural evolution. "Emergence" is
defined as the spontaneous transformation, at whatever level of
organization, of the previously incoherent into the coherent; the coming
into being without exogenous specification of new levels of dynamical
space-time behavior. Since emergent behavior is discovered at virtually
all observable space-time scales the underlying principles which govern
it are believed to be universal. We seek to identify, study and model
the universalities, laws or principles, and attractors that govern.
Although the core group is deeply rooted in nonequilibrium
thermodynamics, this is not a requirement for participation. On the
contrary we seek participants from fields as diverse as physics,
biology, ecology and the cognitive and social sciences. Philosophical
contributions that deal with implications and consequences are also
encouraged. Posters are particularly welcome.
(Abstracts to (both please): Rod Swenson, Center for the Study of
Complex Systems, 84 Thomas Street, New York, NY 10013 USA, FAX: (212)
571-4538, and Bruce H. Weber, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
California State University, Fullerton, California 92634 USA).
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING
This session continues a theme first presented at the ISSS
meeting in Budapest, and further developed at the Edinburgh meeting: a
new systems-based approach to knowledge engineering that encompasses
knowledge elicitation, knowledge formalization, and advanced forms of
knowledge representation. This paper session will follow a symposium
dealing with these themes at which George Klir, Robert Orchard, Edward
Reese and others are expected to speak. Papers are solicited that bring
a systems perspective to the process of knowledge engineering both in
general knowledge-based systems as well as in the more classical
computer-based expert systems.
(Abstracts to: Robert A. Orchard, P.O. Box 730, Butler, New Jersey
07405 USA , Phone: (201) 839-7025).
6. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
While the prevailing view predicts a general global warming
trend, some scientists predict the result of greenhouse warming could
trigger a runaway glaciation cycle. This has great potential
consequences for the "design of a just society for future generations."
It has been shown that such a transition from a carbon dioxide
greenhouse to a glacial regime can occur within a 20 year time period,
but scientists have been unable to calculate a probability function for
when this might actually commence. Since the result could be 2 billion
dead, any plan for a just society would have to have a contingency plan
for mass migration or for changing the glacial cycle.
There are six stages of systems analysis of this climate change
problem: (1) philosophical discussion, (2) scientific research, (3)
development of a strategy, (4) engineering design of projects, (5)
production of materials and tools, (6) emergency action. We plan to
discuss items (1)-(3) in Portland, and items (4)-(6) in Europe in 1991.
(Abstracts to: Fred B. Wood, Sr., 2346 Lansford Ave., San Jose, CA
95125 USA, Phone: (408) 723-7818).
7. INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS APPLICATIONS
The purpose of this session is to continue our previous work
discussing and exploring how metaphors from rapidly developing fields of
knowledge such as sub-atomic physics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry,
ecology, and evolution can be applied in the management of
organizations. Those interested in participating in this discourse are
invited to submit abstracts.
(Abstracts to: Gail Fleischaker, 76 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143
USA).
8. INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN
At present, the field of information systems design is nurtured
by a number of disciplines, and continues in search of a paradigm. As
is the case with other systems application domains, in the absence of a
concerted design effort, the default mode of operation tends to be
technology driven design. This session seeks to investigate
philosophical, theoretical, and methodological frameworks for such
design efforts.
Papers are invited to continue the dialogue that was started on
"The Design of Information Systems for Organizational Learning", at the
1989 ISSS Conference. In 1989 a number of papers examined information
systems design issues related to "double-loop" learning, and some of the
discussion extended to the question of "triple-loop" learning. In light
of the 1990 Presidential theme, this extension is most appropriate.
(Abstracts to: Bela A. Banathy, 38 Seca Place, Salinas, CA 93908 USA).
9. LIBERATING SYSTEMS THEORY
The title "Liberating System Theory" (LST) has a double meaning
P first, it points to a concern for the liberation of systems theory
itself: (a) from its tendency towards self-imposed insularity; and (b)
from internal isolationist stances, i.e., by bringing the variety of
systems approaches to the fore at once. The second meaning is not
exclusive from the first, i.e., we are concerned with using such systems
theory for the liberation of "systems." These include persons from all
forms of institutional, social and national and international groupings
who, for whatever reasons or purposes, might benefit from liberation or
emancipation. To this end we are seeking an approach to "truth" and
"meaning" that is both "personally satisfying" and of "general utility".
Issues that might be discussed, therefore include "complementarity of
systems approaches" and "anti-reflexivity for systems research" and
"liberation of 'systems' ('creed', 'race', 'sex', 'class', and so on...;
on specific issues such as 'inherent elitism in the traditional use of
systemic concepts', 'power maintenance in organizations', 'hunger' and
so on...).
(Abstracts to: R.L. Flood, Department of Management Systems and
Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, HUG 7RX, United Kingdom).
10. MARXIST COMMUNISM AND WESTERNP STYLE CAPITALISM
A just future is clearly tied to economic and political
constraints. The world is witnessing a major transformation with the
instability of Marxist communism. Yet the system to which it seems to
be unstable, namely, Western capitalism is clearly unstable in a totally
different way. In fact with its emphasis on accelerating consumption
Western capitalism virtually feeds on instability with an apparently
irrational and insatiable hunger the possible horrific ecological and
human consequences of which are not now truly known. Clearly this is a
situation of neither/nor; neither of these systems taken as they are
presently operating is viable for the future. At present there is no
viable vision for the future. Scholars of complexity, economics,
political science and others interested in this critical issue are
invited to contribute to this session. We seek to understand what the
components to or constraints on a just and viable future might be, and
at the most ambitious level we seek to image what the best of all
possible future worlds might be.
(Abstracts to: Gail Fleischaker, 76 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143
USA).
11. METAMODELING AND SYSTEM EPISTEMOLOGY
The purpose of metamodeling is to promote and to encourage the
study of inquiring systems of high levels of abstraction which serve as
an epistemological design foundation for lower level modeling systems.
We are particularly interested to study epistemological issues which
relate to issues of design of the system of design. It is important to
emphasize that metamodeling is to modeling what the process of 'learning
to learn' is to 'learning', or what the process of 'decision making
about decision making' is to 'decision making'. The nature of
metamodeling is also described as the study of paradigmatic issues and
systems of inquiry as they relate to the epistemological foundations of
a scientific discipline. We entertain an interest in applications of
metamodeling such as they pertain to the design of safety systems and
management systems that avoid failures. We are interested in exploring
the consequences of neglecting epistemological, metasystemic or
metamodeling concerns in system design. Papers are invited from those
who would like to explore these issues with us.
(Abstracts to: John P. van Gigch, School of Business Administration,
California State University, Sacramento, CA 95819 USA).
12. NONEQUILIBRIUM AND NONLINEAR PHENOMENA IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
This session grows out of the "Nonequilibrium and Dissipative
Structures in Systems" session held in Edinburgh and focuses on human
systems at the level of individuals and families. We are exploring
concepts of human health and disease in terms of concepts of
nonequilibirum states and the role of randomness, irreversible
processes, and development over time. Whether at the human biological
level or at the level of family interactions, we seek to explore the
promise of new models based on such phenomena that help provide new
insights into the improvement of health in such systems. We welcome
your participation in our endeavor.
(Abstracts to: Mary Ann Walsh Eells, 12691 Quarter Road, Ellicot City,
MD 21043 USA, Phone: (301) 531-3744).
13. ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSDISCIPLINARY THEORY
(sponsored by the Emergence and Evolution Study Group)
The search for good theories that explain the origins of new
kinds of phenomena requires the existence of observables measurable on
systems of multiple kinds. Entropy is typically offered as being
measurable on systems of all kinds, but there is some dispute whether we
are justified in using only thermodynamic entropy, or if we are free to
consider other kinds of non-thermodynamic entropies which might or might
not now a monotonic increase towards equilibrium.
In this session we wish to consider: 1) the semantics of
properties that are regarded as being applicable to systems of multiple
kinds, such as entropy, order, organization, complexity, structure,
constraint, dependence, information, randomness, variety, and
uncertainty; and 2) the ontological status of non-thermodynamic
entropies.
(Abstracts to: Cliff Joslyn, Systems Science, SUNY Binghamton,
Binghamton, N.Y. 13901 USA, Phone: (607) 729-5348,
cjoslyn@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu).
14. SYMBOLS AND DYNAMICS
According to Richard Dawkins genes are "active", "striving"
selfish entities, but to Howard Pattee they are rate-independent symbol
strings that are thermodynamically neutral and thus meaningless and
inert without dynamical systems to "read" them. For Pattee symbols and
dynamics are complementary but irreducible components in what he calls
symbol-matter systems, e.g., living and cultural systems. But as Leslie
White has pointed out all symbols must have a physical form or else they
could not enter our experience. Thus is it not more accurate to define
symbols as just a very slow dynamic relative to a much faster one, the
one that "reads" them? Further, do symbols "harness laws" (dynamics) as
Pattee has claimed or do dynamics use or harness symbols which are just
a particular kind of dynamic? Does the "word" deserve a separate
ontological status of some kind, and is this status higher than that of
physical law?
Papers are solicited from those who would like to make a
contribution to the resolution of these theoretical questions.
Particularly relevant to the discussion in addition to the work of
Pattee is the work of Robert Rosen; the work being produced by the
Gibsonian school of perceptual psychology that challenges the Cartesian
dualism of modern cognitive science; and the work of neural network
theoreticians that have likewise challenged the computer/mind metaphor.
Posters are particularly welcome.
(Abstracts to: Gail Fleischaker, 76 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143
USA).
15. SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY/PSYCHIATRY
This session focuses on cybernetics and system-theoretical
concepts, models or theories that deal with psychological phenomena.
Contributions are invited that show different types of
cybernetic/systems applications to areas as diverse as industrial,
clerical, education, economic, military, and social. We also encourage
papers submitted on basic research in specific areas such as
psychocybernetics, i.e., cybernetic concepts used to model the processes
of the mind (e.g., motivation, decision-making, emotions, or cognition).
(Abstracts to: M. Joseph Sirgy, Center for Strategy & Marketing
Studies, Department of Marketing, VA Polytechnic Institute & State
University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA, Phone: (702) 231-5110, or Robert
Langs, The Nathan Klein Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg,
NY 10962 USA, Phone: (212) 799-1490).
16. THE SEARCH FOR SHARED SYSTEMS PROCESSES AND METHODS:
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND HUMAN APPLICATION SCIENCES
One of the most challenging obstacles to achieving a unified
systems science is the persistence of the chasm between natural system
studies and human systems applications. The separation is due to more
than the attitudes and expectations of C.P. Snow's "two cultures", it
is due to past training, world views, values, residual anthropomorphism,
territoriality, the separation of theory from praxis, and an inability
or unwillingness to shift one's focus across time or scales of
organization. Are these separations solely human-based or do they
derive from real phenomenological differences?
Continuing from the 14 papers presented in Edinburgh this
session will begin with a public debate between a recognized advocate of
human systems applications and one for natural systems science. The
debate, however, will have unique rules. Following the usual
presentation of positions, the advocates will switch positions and
describe potential compromises from the others viewpoint. Several
rounds of integrative iterations will follow.
Papers are invited that develop the various positions, that
explore in substantive detail a particular systems concept, process, or
method found in both domains; or that further characterize the history,
origins, or causes of the gap.
(Abstracts to: Len Troncale, Institute for Advanced Systems Studies,
College of Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
91768 USA).
Submission Guidelines
Deadline: Abstracts must be received by 20 January, 1990. The deadline
will be strictly observed. Notification of acceptance will go out by 15
February along with submission guidelines and deadlines for papers to be
published in the proceedings.
Page Charge: Only papers from participants who have paid their
registration fee will be considered for publication in the proceedings.
Assuming acceptance after review, participants are entitled to have one
paper of seven pages, and one abstract of one page published without
charge. Abstracts are published for posters, and for "works in
progress" (contributions that individuals may wish to make to various
sessions where he/she does not want to produce a formal paper).
Participants may have additional work published at a charge of $10 (ten
dollars) per page for an accepted paper, or $15 (fifteen dollars) for an
accepted abstract. These fees are designed to help offset the cost of
printing. If you are making more than one submission please xerox the
form below, follow the instructions and attach one signed copy with each
submission.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR MULTIPLE SUBMISSION FORM
In the space provided on the form please do the following:
% List the total number of abstracts submitted complete with title and
name of session to which you have made each submission, and in each case
whether you are requesting an oral or poster presentation.
% Indicate if accepted whether you would like to have the full paper
published or just the abstract (if you are submitting an abstract for a
poster then only the abstract will be printed).
% For papers submitted for oral presentations, please indicate if you
would be willing at the organizer's discretion to make your presentation
as a poster.
% Please copy this form, sign, and attach to each submission.
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MULTIPLE SUBMISSION FORM
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I understand that there will be a charge of $10 per page for all papers
published after the first, and a charge of $15 per abstract for each
abstract published after the first.
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34th Annual Meeting of the
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
FOR THE SYSTEMS SCIENCES
Portland, Oregon 8-13 July, 1990
ISSS Q CALL FOR SYMPOSIA TOPICS
Symposia fall into two main areas, those specifically designed
to address the President's theme "Designing Just Systems for Future
Generations", and those that may or not address the theme but are not
explicitly designed to do so. Symposia that do not fall into the theme
category are expected to address important new scientific developments
relevent to the Society's overall aim of furthering general systems
theory. Those wishing to organize a symposium should define a topic,
identify potential contributors, and submit a proposal for review. All
things equal, those who have demonstrated their ability to organize
successful paper sessions or other programs in the past will be given
priority. The deadline for submission is November 15. Proposals for
theme symposia should be sent to: Bela H. Banathy, 25781 Morse Drive,
Carmel, CA 93923 USA, Phone: (408) 625-3178; and for non-theme symposia
to: Gail Fleischaker, 76 Porter Street, Sommerville, MA 02143 USA).
--
Good health is merely the slowest rate at which one can die.