Emergence: A Systems Theory’s Challenge to Ethics

Valentinov, Vladislav; Hielscher, Stefan; Pies, Ingo

doi:10.1007/s11213-016-9380-9

Cited by 22 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Systems theorists explain emergence as ‘phenomena that arise from and depend on some more basic phenomena yet are simultaneously autonomous from that base’ (Bedau and Humphreys, , p. 1). Von Bertalanffy explained emergence as the irreducibility of the features of a system relative to those of its constituent parts (Bertalanffy, ; Valentinov et al, ). The concept of emergence is tied to OST because an open system should engender learning and cultural change to adapt (purposively) to the environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Openness Improve National Innovation? An Application to OECD Countries

et al. 2017

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Open systems theory offers a conceptual platform to understand how systems can be effective in adapting to their environments through purposeful action. It is relevant to the performance of national systems of innovation: open‐oriented countries are more likely to be successful in innovation because of the knowledge exchange between international organizations and organizations within the same country. In this paper, the open systems concept is defined and measured by a number of factors including extent of open trade, information and communication technology development, and online government service measures. In this study, the relationship between the measures of openness and the level of innovation of each country (measured using the Global Innovation Index) is analysed using analysis of variance, with results indicating a positive relationship. The theoretical contribution resides in the argument that a nation's openness relates to innovation capability and that this can be assessed by the factors in the model used in the paper. We argue that rather than focusing on innovation, countries should consider developing an open systems platform for innovation by maximizing their interactions with the international environment and developing mechanisms to circulate knowledge internally within the country. This should result in a supportive context where innovations can emerge. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Openness Improve National Innovation? An Application to OECD Countries

et al. 2017

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“…Yet, at the same time, no individual or institution seems to be held specifically accountable for anything" [19] (p. 224). Valentinov et al [34] note in this connection the "emergent" character of modern moral problems, such as that of climate change. There are few doubts that "global warming is one of the most urgent and serious problems facing humankind.…”

Section: The Two Philosophies Of Agriculture and The Role Of Agricultmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Yet […] many people neither understand nor accept the conclusions of the science of climate change" [35] (p. 197). According to Valentinov et al [34], the dysfunctional consequences of moral communication can be prevented only if it is framed by those "semantic forms that take account of the emergent properties of the economic and other social systems" [34] (p. 1). It seems that, in the agribusiness and farming context, the search for these forms may be expediently conducted on the terrain staked out by the ongoing discourse between the so-called industrial and agrarian philosophies of agriculture.…”

Section: The Common Systems-theoretic Corementioning

confidence: 99%

The Rise of the Food Risk Society and the Changing Nature of the Technological Treadmill

et al. 2016

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Economic development of transition and developed countries is associated with increasingly unhealthy dietary habits among low-income population segments. Drawing on Ulrich Beck's sociological theory of risk society, the present research note calls attention to the positive relation between national economic development and food risks that result in the rise of food-related diseases and healthcare costs. On this basis, we argue that the knowledge-intensive agribusiness may translate Cochrane's technological treadmill into Beck's risk treadmill that shifts a growing share of food-related healthcare costs from producers toward consumers, state, and the healthcare system. This argument motivates a novel research program dealing with the "food risk treadmill" that emerges in response to modern farming and agribusiness practices. Awareness of the food risk treadmill may help to streamline the development of agricultural science and to prevent it from being excessively dominated by the agricultural and food industry.

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“…It is hardly an accident that, having placed the main systemic function into complexity reduction, Luhmann considered the system–environment relations to be inherently precarious (Valentinov et al, ; Valentinov, 2015a,b). This precariousness is the main theme of his ‘system–environment’ paradigm that he contrasted with the Aristotelian ‘part‐whole’ metaphysics (cf.…”

Section: Luhmann's Systems‐theoretic Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Complexity Reduction to Moral Character: A Deweyian Reading of Luhmann's Social Systems Theory

Valentinov

Pies

2017

Syst. Res

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Taking account of the widest possible range of consequences of one's action takes centre stage in John Dewey's pragmatist ethics, which likewise acknowledges that the ability to do so depends on the individual moral character. In contrast, Luhmann's theory of complexity‐reducing systems underscores the difficulties that social systems experience in registering the consequences of their operations in the overwhelmingly complex environment. Drawing upon Dewey's concept of moral character, the paper argues that social systems can be infused with an interest in controlling those consequences that pose risks to their sustainability. From an institutional economics perspective, this interest is shown to be implicated in the justification of the firm ownership in Alchian and Demsetz's theory of the firm. From the business ethics perspective, a similar interest is shown to underpin corporate social responsibility activities. Both perspectives acknowledge the effect of the corporate moral character on the predictability, reliability, and orderliness of corporate behaviour. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Emergence: A Systems Theory’s Challenge to Ethics

Cited by 22 publications

References 47 publications

Does Openness Improve National Innovation? An Application to OECD Countries

Does Openness Improve National Innovation? An Application to OECD Countries

The Rise of the Food Risk Society and the Changing Nature of the Technological Treadmill

From Complexity Reduction to Moral Character: A Deweyian Reading of Luhmann's Social Systems Theory

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