REFERENCE FRAMES (Evolving)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2783 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Human sciences |
Reference frames-whether individual or socially more or less shared- are basically adaptive mental and behavioral devices, corresponding to specific situations .
However, fitness is not forever, precisely because situations do change. Any reference frame needs thus more or less frequent updating: it must be not only adapted, but also adaptive.
As observed for example by Th. KUHN in the case of scientific paradigms , such changes can be slow, difficult and even painful (in cases, they imply even impossible mental and/or behavioral shifts for some people)
This necessity for change can lead either to dramatic discontinuities (mental troubles, revolutions), or to more or less peaceful transitions through psychological change in autopoietic ways or shifting consensus among people through conversation .
The present transition toward the “man-planet ”system through so-called globalization would be possible without tragedies only through a deep evolutive reconstruction of individual and shared reference frames worldwide, even if this is obviously a tall order.
See also
Adaptability (or Adaptiveness), Consensus, Conversation, Framebraking, Learning (Systemic), Purpose in social systems, Social cybernetics, System (Self-modifying)