{"product_id":"the-science-of-synthesis-debora-hammond-9781607320692","title":"The Science of Synthesis: Exploring the Social Implications of General Systems Theory","description":"Debora Hammond's \u003ci\u003eThe Science of Synthesis\u003c\/i\u003e explores the development of general systems theory and the individuals who gathered together around that idea to form the Society for General Systems Research. In examining the life and work of the SGSR's five founding members-Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Kenneth Boulding, Ralph Gerard, James Grier Miller, and Anatol Rapoport-Hammond traces the emergence of systems ideas across a broad range of disciplines in the mid-twentieth century. \u003cp\u003eBoth metaphor and framework, the systems concept as articulated by its earliest proponents highlights relationship and interconnectedness among the biological, ecological, social, psychological, and technological dimensions of our increasingly complex lives. Seeking to transcend the reductionism and mechanism of classical science-which they saw as limited by its focus on the discrete, component parts of reality-the general systems community hoped to complement this analytic approach with a more holistic orientation. As one of many systems traditions, the general systems group was specifically interested in fostering collaboration and integration among different disciplinary perspectives, with an emphasis on nurturing more participatory and truly democratic forms of social organization.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Science of Synthesis\u003c\/i\u003e documents a unique episode in the history of modern thought, one that remains relevant today. This book will be of interest to historians of science, system thinkers, scholars and practicioners in the social sciences, management, organization development and related fields, as well as the general reader interested in the history of ideas that have shaped critical developments in the second half of the twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Debora Hammond\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 160732069X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781607320692\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Press of Colorado\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/10\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.09lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.75d","brand":"Debora Hammond","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47930851295487,"sku":"9781607320692","price":28.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_560a2464-beb1-4ed6-8f05-b892822bd86b.jpg?v=1766344707","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-science-of-synthesis-debora-hammond-9781607320692","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}