SYSTEMS THEORY AND THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS IN POSTMODERNITY A thesis submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for AS the Degree 3C, POLT Master of Arts - V4-1 In Political Science by Adele Suzanne Marie Veyssiere San Francisco, California May 2016 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read Systems Theory And The Ecological Crisis In Postmodernity by Adele Suzanne Marie Veyssiere, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Arts in Political Science at San Francisco State University. James Martel, Ph.D. Professor of Department of Political Science SYSTEMS THEORY AND THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS IN POSTMODERNITY Adele Suzanne Marie Veyssiere San Francisco, California 2016 This project presents and discusses the social and political contemporary challenges in relation to the ecological crisis. In this essay I demonstrate the, relevance of a train of thought combining postmodern philosophy with complexity and systems theory in order to articulate an operational reflection on the ecological crisis to finding alternatives. I certify that the abstract is a correct representation of the content of this thesis PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The process of composing this thesis was the most creative enterprise I ever engaged in. The classic format of writing presents itself as a linear thinking process: sentences, words and concepts can be very constraining and limiting which also somehow alienates us from realizing so. Thereupon, besides thinking, reading and writing ideas, I found myself animating my thoughts physically and visually too; I experimented, crafted, moved around and tested my ideas in many instances. The cyclic change of approach to articulating ideas stimulated my thought process in enlightening ways by broadening and adding dimensions to my existing perspectives, which is very much the ambition of my work with regards to the current ecological challenges the world faces today. With such approach and purpose, in addition to my scriptural work I offer a collection of illustrations to facilitate the comprehension and articulation of complex ideas and as analytic tools to facilitate and encourage multidimensional thinking. I believe that, it is by modeling perspectives visually that one can recognize and understand several facets of the problem within its global aspect. Nevertheless, it is important to be reminded that an illustration is never exhaustive, as it cannot encompass the totality of a system’s elements or a system’s broader context. Each one of the graphic figures I offer in this discussion should be considered open-ended with a great potential of extensibility. This thesis is dedicated to Philippe Veyssiere, Lucy Rittner, Zelda Rittner, Maximilien Veyssiere, Fleur Veyssiere, Lucas Conte, Les Frangins Frendleyks and Joel J. Kassiola. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................9 PART 1. SYSTEMS AND COMPLEXITY IN MODERN ECOLOGY.................................12 Chapter 1: Paradoxes, Constraints and Creativity Given by The ecological Crisis: A Literature Review..............................................................................................................12 Chapter 2: The Paradigm of Complexity and System Theory: A Methodological Approach.................................................................... 23 A. An Overview of the Contemporary Ecological Challenges: Theoretical Framework.....................................................................................................................23 B. Accessing Mental Models with System Intelligence: The Capacity of Recognizing and Modeling Concepts in Their Systemic Belonging..........................29 PART 2: CONCEPTUALIZING NATURE: CONSTRAINTS AND PARADOXES.............39 Chapter 1: From Ancient Biocentrism to Modern Anthropocentrism and Grand Narratives: Bible, Hobbes, Locke & Descartes..............................................................40 C. Ancient and Modern views.................................................................................40 D. The Path Towards Modernity.............................................................................46 Chapter 2: Language, Narratives and Epistemological Issues to Conceptualizing Nature................................................................................................................................59 E. Ideological Rhetoric: Essentializing and Totalizing Effects of Language.........61 F. Meta-epistemological problems..........................................................................68 G. Ontological gap: issues in defining the concept of “nature”..............................73 Chapter 3: A Postmodern Approach: Identity, Culture, Centrism and Dualistic Logic. 84 H. The role of culture and identity...........................................................................85 I. Dualistic Logic: The modern Western governing narratives................................98 J. Paradoxes of Individual and Collective Psyche............................................... 106 K. Defining the Derridean concept of “Deconstruction”....................................... 117 PART 3: SYSTEM MODELS: CONTEXT, STRUCTURES, DYNAMICS, ORGANIZATIONAL FORCES REGULATING THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS.................128 Chapter 1: Embeddedness of mental models, power structures and behavioral patterns............................................................................................................................129 L. Foundational structures of Western civilization..............................................129 M. Modern Identities................................................................................................133 N. Globalization and Development: Planetary Context....................................... 136 O. The different facts of human behavior in postmodern societies.................... 141 Chapter 2: Structural organization of Western contemporary societies..................... 153 P. Powers, actors, axiomatic system and ideologies.......................................... 153 Q. Structural dynamics of contemporary societies............................................... 162 Chapter 3: Paradoxes and crisis relative to Western culture, democracy and neoliberal capitalism in the context of globalization.....................................................181 PART 4: CONCLUDING THOUGHTS AND PROPOSITIONS.......................................216 Chapter 1: From problems and paradoxes to alternative framework and approach. 216 vi R. Mental Models.....................................................................................................216 S. Social structures and behaviors..........................................................................223 T. Global Superstructure and local substructures.................................................231 Bibliography........................................................................................................................235 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Figure 1 The "nine dots" puzzle...........................................................................................13 Figure 2 “Nine dots” solved.................................................................................................. 14 Figure 3 Organization of human mental models and process of information.....................18 Figure 4 The Iceberg.............................................................................................................24 Figure 5 Systems and subsystem........................................................................................31 Figure 6 A Transdisciplinary Approach...............................................................................35 Figure 7 Recursive and reflexive process of gender rhetoric in ideological narrative 66 Figure 8 Complexity of Human Representation..................................................................80 Figure 9 Morin’s Human Trinity............................................................................................87 Figure 10 Human complex Identities.................................................................................. 88 Figure 11 Polycentric Human Identity................................................................................. 91 Figure 12 Cultural capital of sexism: organizational heritage........................................... 95 Figure 13 A step further on a Foucauldian note................................................................100 Figure 14 Oppressive Conceptual Frameworks................................................................132 Figure 15 Oppressive structures of Western Civil Societies............................................158 Figure 16 Power of Language in Western Ideologies......................................................160 Figure 17 Road Map...........................................................................................................164 Figure 18 Capitalism: Structural conditions or circumstantial prerequisites...................169 Figure 19 Commercial Logic of the Market