In Wisdom, Knowledge, and Management: A Critique and Analysis of
Churchman's Systems Approach, the 2nd volume of the series entitled
Churchman's Legacy and Related Works, the editors draw contributions
from leading systems thinkers inspired by the works of C. West
Churchman.
The Systems Approach and Its Enemies (C. West Churchman, 1979) is one of
Churchman's most significant works. In this particular writing he
displayed two main tendencies, that he was a Skeptic and that he showed
Socratic Wisdom. In Wisdom, Knowledge, and Management, the editors seeks
to follow up on these two themes and reveal how modern authors interpret
Churchman's ideas, apply them to their own line of thinking and develop
their own brand of Systemics.
Several authors re-interpret Churchman's thinking and several others
apply this holistic discourse to practical applications. It is very
significant that the authors are a very cosmopolitan group: hailing from
Sweden, Australia, Spain, South Korea, Argentina and USA. Interestingly,
the contribution from the South Korean author, Yu Jae E, applies
conceptual tools from the French contemporary writer, Deleuze.
Additionally, Darek M. Eriksson's chapter applies the epistemology of
Jean-Louis Le Moigne.
Finally, we would like to note that one theme of this volume is to
relate modern authors, and in particular Churchman, to ideas spawned two
thousands years ago among the Ancient Greeks.
This effort should show the reach of Churchman's intellectual power and
demonstrates cross-fertilization across borders and continents. It could
not have happened without the Internet.
