No matter how much detail I was given about the picture, I just couldn't see beyond the surface. The dentist responded briefly. Emptying the Teacup. . . Systems thinking involves a dialectical process in which two concepts are deliberately placed in opposition to create an intellectual tension. The best that a course like this can do is offer a few guideposts in the form of suggestions, readings, questions, web links, and other resources.
Systems theory forms a knowledge base that can be shared.
This is not one of them, but it's a good time to introduce you to the discussion format and the form you will use to introduce yourself to me and other proto-systems thinkers. If you feel like browsing, try these links. ASCD Systems Thinking and Chaos Theory Network Daily Zen , where you will also find a Zen Cat . Because it's useful to have a common language to do this, Lesson 2 introduces some new definitions and identifies the concepts we'll be using during the balance of the course. And later in the course.