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Volume 2: Human Potential: Transformation and Values
[Volume 1 / Volume 2 / Volume 3]
4th edition, 1994-95, 1 vol., 928 pages, hardcover. ISBN 3-598-11226-2. (Individual volume price : DM 548; US$ 245; £280).
Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential contains the most comprehensive description of the variety of approaches to human development. While their intention may be to alleviate suffering, paradoxically their blinkered pursuit is often a prime cause of world problems, notably in the case of religious conflict. The number of human development entries has increased by 10% to 4,475, with the cross-references between them increased by 19% to 17,900. The human values section has been adapted and extended in order also to serve as a unique index to world problems from a value perspective.
Sections:
Integrative Concepts and Symbols The Encyclopedia research has included work on interdisciplinary, integrative and unitary concepts since the first edition in 1976. The intention was to present understandings of integration and ways of dealing with the cognitive complexity characteristic of networks of problems, organizations and strategies. Profiles of some 600 such concepts were presented in the 1991 edition. The 1994 edition includes the bibliography, plus extensive commentary on the challenge of interdisciplinarity and logical discontinuities between disciplinary approaches.
Patterns and Metaphor The 1991 edition included examples of some 80 metaphors potentially significant to new and more fruitful understanding of discontinuity and disagreement. In the current edition the focus is placed on extensive commentary on the relevance of metaphor to governance faced with conflicting demands and understandings. An extensive bibliography is also included.
Transformative Approaches to Social Organization Extensive commentary is provided on a range of transformative approaches, from mapping techniques to the relevance of poetry-making to policy-making.
Human Values and Wisdom The Encyclopedia takes an unusual approach to the range of human values. Rather than limiting its focus to the dozen values most frequently discussed (peace, justice, and the like), Volume 2 identifies 987 "constructive" or positive values as well as 1,990 "destructive" or negative values. The positive and negative values are clustered into 230 value polarities (like beauty- ugliness) to transcend the semantic confusion associated with many value-words. It is however the negative value terms which are used to sharpen the problematic nature of the problem names given in Volume 1: World Problems. Negative values are systematically cross- referenced to both world problem names and to the complementary positive values (via the polarities). For the first time it becomes possible to trace the positive values in terms of which problems becomes perceptible. Also for the first time, values are cross-referenced to human development where particular approaches or experiences enhance the understanding of a particular value. The editors explore a variety of possibilities of organizing value terms as a prelude to any justification for the current preoccupation with so-called basic values.
4th edition, 1994-95, 1 vol., 928 pages, hardcover. ISBN 3-598-11226-2. (Individual volume price : DM 548; US$ 245; £280).
Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential contains the most comprehensive description of the variety of approaches to human development. While their intention may be to alleviate suffering, paradoxically their blinkered pursuit is often a prime cause of world problems, notably in the case of religious conflict. The number of human development entries has increased by 10% to 4,475, with the cross-references between them increased by 19% to 17,900. The human values section has been adapted and extended in order also to serve as a unique index to world problems from a value perspective.
Sections:
- Human Potential and Development
- Integrative Concepts and Symbols
- Patterns and Metaphor
- Transformative Approaches to Social Organization
- Human Values and Wisdom
Integrative Concepts and Symbols The Encyclopedia research has included work on interdisciplinary, integrative and unitary concepts since the first edition in 1976. The intention was to present understandings of integration and ways of dealing with the cognitive complexity characteristic of networks of problems, organizations and strategies. Profiles of some 600 such concepts were presented in the 1991 edition. The 1994 edition includes the bibliography, plus extensive commentary on the challenge of interdisciplinarity and logical discontinuities between disciplinary approaches.
Patterns and Metaphor The 1991 edition included examples of some 80 metaphors potentially significant to new and more fruitful understanding of discontinuity and disagreement. In the current edition the focus is placed on extensive commentary on the relevance of metaphor to governance faced with conflicting demands and understandings. An extensive bibliography is also included.
Transformative Approaches to Social Organization Extensive commentary is provided on a range of transformative approaches, from mapping techniques to the relevance of poetry-making to policy-making.
Human Values and Wisdom The Encyclopedia takes an unusual approach to the range of human values. Rather than limiting its focus to the dozen values most frequently discussed (peace, justice, and the like), Volume 2 identifies 987 "constructive" or positive values as well as 1,990 "destructive" or negative values. The positive and negative values are clustered into 230 value polarities (like beauty- ugliness) to transcend the semantic confusion associated with many value-words. It is however the negative value terms which are used to sharpen the problematic nature of the problem names given in Volume 1: World Problems. Negative values are systematically cross- referenced to both world problem names and to the complementary positive values (via the polarities). For the first time it becomes possible to trace the positive values in terms of which problems becomes perceptible. Also for the first time, values are cross-referenced to human development where particular approaches or experiences enhance the understanding of a particular value. The editors explore a variety of possibilities of organizing value terms as a prelude to any justification for the current preoccupation with so-called basic values.
