Wisdom

In Wisdom, Knowledge, and Management: A Critique and Analysis of Churchmans Systems Approach, the 2nd volume of the series entitled Churchmans 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 Churchmans 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 Churchmans ideas, apply them to their own line of thinking and develop their own brand of Systemics.

Several authors re-interpret Churchmans 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. Erikssons 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 Churchmans intellectual power and demonstrates cross-fertilization across borders and continents. It could not have happened without the Internet.