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27 May 2012
Swastika as Dynamic Pattern Underlying Psychosocial Power ProcessesImplicate order of Knight's move game-playing sustaining creativity, exploitation and impunity- / - Introduction Quest for more powerful metaphors Swastika as a cultural universal? Intuitive sense of subtle processes expressed through metaphor Knight's move thinking: appreciated or deprecated Insights from Knight's move thinking Alternative representations: Knight's move, Swastika and BaGua ? Naturomimicry: sourcing nature for strategic metaphors Stratagems and ploys characteristic of Knight's move thinking Complementary patterns of higher dimensional "avoidance" Competition as war -- between the "faculties" Eight clusters of players in the global financial board game? Conclusion References IntroductionThis speculative exploration is not about the problematic (neo) Nazi use of the Swastika, nor is it about the use of the Swastika as a traditional symbol much valued in many cultures of the world. However it does suggest further insights into why the Swastika has been recognized in such contexts and why those contrasting uses merit further reflection. The concern here is the nature of the game-playing in society amongst those empowered to engage in it. More specifically it is concerned with the cognitive and strategic skills associated with such game-playing -- whether for imaginative purposes enhancing social well-being, or in the devious and irresponsible exploitation of that well-being. In this sense, rather than preoccupation with the Swastika as a symbol, the concern is with the nature of a well-hidden game of which it is indeed an appropriate symbol, enabling a powerful pattern of thinking. Of particular concern is why that confidence game is so difficult to identify -- to "put one's finger on" -- namely why it appears to operate beneath the level of collective consciousness. Being "under the radar", it is perhaps consistent with the arguments of John Ralston Saul (The Unconscious Civilization, 1995). Of further concern, is why those who engage in it so blatantly are able to escape any effective indictment -- as so well illustrated by the denial of any responsibility on the part of those with key roles in enabling the current financial crisis. The argument here presents the form of the Swastika as emerging from a pattern of Knight's moves, both as recognized in chess and as valued in imaginative strategic processes. This is typically named as "Knight's move thinking" -- also recognized in a pathological form, appropriate to the ambiguity calling for recognition. This move has been a key to consideration of the nature of surprise in strategic competition, whether from the perspective of the winner or of the loser. As a potentially key systemic pattern in a period of crisis, the consequence of banning the display of the Swastika then merits further consideration as an inhibition of collective learning. This obscures potential recognition of how crimes against humanity are engendered and perpetrated as well as the nature of a possible key to a sustainable pattern of development dynamics. The concern here is to go beyond simple acknowledgement of that strategic modality -- for good or ill -- in order to distinguish a pattern emerging from the variety of such "moves". This is considerably facilitated by relating that pattern to the Chinese traditional configuration of the BaGua. Of particular relevance at this time is the interface this may offer for cognitive engagement with natural processes. Beyond recognition of biomimicry, this suggests the possibility of "naturomicry" as a means of ensuring a missing psychological engagement with sustainability, as previously explored (Psychology of Sustainability: embodying cyclic environmental processes, 2002). Quest for more powerful metaphorsAt the time of writing, in the midst of unprecedented global financial crisis, the International Herald Tribune (19-20 May 2012) carries an article by Robert J. Shiller titled A metaphor for finances that deceives (p.12), continuing on a later page under the title The improper metaphor can pose a threat to national economies (p.14). It is however carried in the online edition of its associated publication as How National Belt-Tightening Goes Awry (The New York Times, 19 May 2012). Citing the cognitive linguistic work of George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (Metaphors We Live By, 1980), Shiller asks:
He concludes:
He offers as an alternative metaphor "a winter on the family farm" -- to which bloggers have responded critically (Metaphorically Speaking, Econospeak, 20 May 2012), but without being able to offer a better alternative. Inspired by the use by John Maynard Keynes of "animal spirits" as descriptors of emotional drives, Shiller is co-author with George A. Akerlof of a study of the role played by the emotions in influencing economic decision-making (Animal Spirits: how human psychology drives the economy, and why it matters for global capitalism, 2009). In a period when the retreat of NATO forces from Afghanistan is to be framed by the slogan Afghanistan, Good Enough, Shiller's argument could be framed as Belt-tightening, Not Good Enough. The more general argument developed here is that global civilization is faced with a metaphorical crisis which calls for more powerful metaphors -- of the kind of which the Swastika is indicative. The need for a new metaphor has been variously articulated by Subhash Sharma (Towards A New "Earth Sastra": rethinking economics through integration of Indian thought and economics, Indian Economic Association, 2011; Holistic Globalisation: implications for women in management and development. In: Globalization at the Crossroads, 2008):
Sharma has also presented a "swastika analysis" of Indian society in terms of social discourse analysis (Indian Society 2004: Matrix and the Circle. Southern Economist, 43, 8, August 15, 2004, pp. 5-8). Swastika as a cultural universal?For Rhawn Joseph (Multi-Regional Symbolism From: Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, Clinical Neuroscience, 2000):
The question meriting continuing reflection is why the Swastika has been so widely appreciated across cultures and down the ages. This usage is well-indicated by the following poem.
Many have noted the manner in which Hitler exploited the Swastika. Less evident is why this exploitation of the symbol "worked" so evidently and tragically. The argument here is that the symbol is indicative of subtle processes which cannot be readily "grasped", however effectively they may be enacted in practice. The question is what are those processes and how to approach an understanding of them -- given that conventional efforts at "grasping" them may be completely incompatible with their nature. Some sense of this is offered in the following elegant description of these processes by a personage, variously considered problematic in his own right, notably as a consequence of his strategic skills, namely Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. In discussing the Swastika and the Cross embedded in it, he argues that science and religion are different in that science is a kind of "rape" of reality, seeking to conquer, disrupting its natural equilibrium and harmony. He contrasts that with religion, which he understands as a process of wooing reality -- a courtship (The Dhammapada: The Way of the Buddha, Vol. 4 Chapter 10: Aes Dhammo Sanantano). This can be argued otherwise, contrasting "discover" with "enchant" (Beyond Harassment of Reality and Grasping Future Possibilities: learnings from sexual harassment as a metaphor, 1996). He emphasizes the subtlety required for certain forms of understanding, as recognizes in the extensive literature on apophasis, the indirection of "not saying" -- in contrast to the assertive discourse of cataphasis. The distinction has implications for the understanding of identity (Being What You Want problematic kataphatic identity vs. potential of apophatic identity? 2008). It is in this context that the nature of that subtlety may be better comprehended through metaphoric allusion, through parables and stories -- avoiding a mode of seeking to "grasp" it. This has been well expressed by the biologist/anthropologist Gregory Bateson, in explaining why "we are our own metaphor" to a conference on the effects of conscious purpose on human adaptation:
The question in the following exploration is the nature of the subtlety, underlying representation by the form of the Swastika, whether it is expressed creatively or exploitatively. As implied by apophasis, the subtlety is characterized by a form of emptiness as expressed in Thomas Merton's interpretation of The Pivot of Chuang Tzu:
To what extent does the form of the Swastika allude to such subtlety in practice? Intuitive sense of subtle processes expressed through metaphorUse of metaphor: The argument here is that there is a degree of recognition, through common (metaphorical) expressions, of processes that cannot be fully "grasped" through rational categories. In relation to the following argument regarding the L-shaped Knight's move in chess, the longer portion of the "L" can be understood as a form of normalcy and linearity -- the phase of longer duration which purportedly characterizes it. Whereas the shorter phase in the process is the unexpected necessarily more sudden). In chess either may precede the other: predictability followed by surprise, or surprise followed by predictability. Some examples, used metaphorically, might include:
These have reverse possibilities in which the sudden surprise precedes a form of predictability, which follows over a more extended period of time. This gives two variants: "do the dirty", then "go clean" (under a cloak of respectability), or else "go clean" (building credibility), then "do the dirty". Perhaps:
The change in orientation may be expressed through "geometrical" metaphors, as with went "round the bend" (implying a degree of craziness), but especially as being "bent" or "crooked" (implying a degree of evil). The "geometry" may take the form of recognition of "closedness" in contrast to "openness". Ball-game and marching metaphors may be used as in "switching foot", namely taking a new stance facing the opposite direction, possibly "wrong-footing" others (who experience this as being "off-footed) Attention may focus on the lack of transparency, namely a perception of stealth rather than openness, as with being "under-the-table" rather than "on-the-table". There may be a sense that "dirty tricks" are used on occasion, cloaked by the highest respectability -- perhaps recognition of a "wolf in sheep's clothing". The exception to normalcy in marital relationships may be expressed as a "bit on the side". More generally this may be recognized as betrayal of a bond or agreement, or more simply "cheating". Following the switch, the perpetrator may be considered to be "unrecognizable" -- having "shifted shape". As questioned by observers, relationships may involve one partner "getting their hooks into" the other, who may not recognize the process until it is too late. For those experiencing the process there may be considerable difficulty in "putting their finger on" how they have been "screwed" or "shafted" -- despite sensing that this has occurred. This may be the essence of the most artful confidence tricks. It may be a case of "now you see it, now you don't", which in the case of corrupt practices may be the equivalent of the "Find the Lady" fair game. Collective instances: As with individual instances, in the collective case what might be claimed to be inappropriate is readily a focus of denial, accompanied by vigorous claims of innocence and assertions of offended honourablity. Any blame may simply be deflected. On a larger scale much use may be made of the media "spin", as recognized in questionable marketing and politics. A previous effort to articulate the nature of the intimate cognitive involvement in recognizing the pattern of assumed innocence and vigorous denial of implication, used the "who me?" experience of snoring (Snoring of The Other a politically relevant psycho-spiritual metaphor? 2006). The experience also characterizes the difficulty of discussing it "objectively". The surprising nature of the "unforeseen" phase has been most usefully explored on a larger scale as black swan theory by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (The Black Swan: the impact of the highly improbable, 2007). This can be understood as clarifying the challenge to the expectation of the predictability of the longer phase. An appropriately shocking example was provided by the scandal of the "creative accounting" of the Enron corporation in 2001. The current period of financial crisis has focused heightened attention of those various complicit in its emergence. One particular concern, when remedies are sought through austerity strategies, is the extent to which major multinational corporations engage in tax avoidance -- the legal utilization of the tax regime to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law. This compounds issues relating to tax evasion -- the evasion of taxes by illegal means -- especially when this cannot be satisfactorily proven in a court of law. People are increasingly aware of "injustice" when confronted with facts relating to these matters. In the USA for example, a recent study found that of 280 companies, all of them on the Fortune 500 list, while the federal corporate tax code ostensibly requires big corporations to pay a 35 percent corporate income tax rate, on average, the 280 corporations in our study paid only about half that amount. And those who paid even half the statutory corporate tax rate paid far more than many of their competitors. 78 corporations had at least one year (in the past three) where they paid no federal income tax at all, while 30 corporations paid nothing, even though they made $160 billion in profits over that period (Robert S. McIntyre, et al., Corporate Taxpayers and Corporate Tax Dodgers 2008-10, Citizens for Tax Justice and Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, November 2011). Equivalent situations exist within the European Union where questionable advantage can readily be taken of the different tax regimes. Clearly the phenomenon is even more extensive elsewhere, as implied by the rankings of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International. Beyond the question of strict legality of such avoidance, where this is claimed, are the moral and ethical issues at a time when individual tax payers are called upon to endanger their livelihoods, and those of their descendants, in order to bailout corporate entities and the financial system in which they are implicated. In a world much characterized by crime, corruption, racketeering and blackmail of every kind, the issue is increasingly how major institutions acclaiming their respectability, and even their social responsibility, manage to place themselves in this advantageous situation -- with the complicity of governments competitively engaged in offering tax avoidance regimes. The sense for many is that such corporations increasingly merit recognition as being "bent" in some manner, if only in the manner in which they successfully "bend" the law to justify actions which are challenged as morally unjust. In the following exploration the legality can be understood as the longer portion of the "L", whereas the "creative accounting" is the shorter "deviant" portion which is morally suspect, even if it can be upheld as legal. Ironically, at a time when the quest for "alternatives" is officially deprecated, the "deviant" portion effectively operates under an "alternative" logic, irrespective of whether this justifies "dirty tricks". The advantage for the perpetrators -- but a difficulty in demonstrating their innocence -- is that in many instances they have the right to shield their activities under confidentiality laws. Suspicions are compounded by the facility with which corporations can seek injunctions on release of relevant details -- further compounded by the existence of "superinjunctions" to prevent any discussion of the existence of such injunctions or the matters to which they apply. Their employees are necessarily obliged to sign non-disclosure agreements. Commentators may well challenge any criticism as totally unjustified -- especially when employed by media owned by the corporations in question. Whilst much may be legal, "stink" is a metaphor many find relevant. Just how do they do that? The following image is the first of others (below) -- offering a visual metaphor of the cognitive challenge.
Knight's move thinking: appreciated or deprecatedChess and Go: In chess the movement of the knight is unusual compared to other chess pieces. It can either move two squares horizontally and one square vertically, or two squares vertically and one square horizontally. In both cases the move resembles the form of the letter "L". Unlike other pieces, the knight can "jump over" others to reach its destination -- capturing a piece of the opposite colour if it occupies that destination square. In the game of go, a Keima is recognized as a "Small Knight's move" and an Ogeima as a "Large Knight's move" -- because of their resemblance to the move in chess. Considerable attention has been given in graph theory, to the pattern of such moves over an 8x8 chess board (or those of larger size). A knight's graph is a representation of all legal moves of the Knight over the board. A Knight's tour is the mathematical problem of determining the path the Knight may follow in order to visit each square on the board only (see animation in Wikipedia article). One, discovered by Edward Falkber yields a pattern at its center resembling a stylized swastika. Many potentially valuable insights are to be associated with explorations of the Knight's tour and its representation, most notably following the work of Dan Thomasson (Knight Tours. Internet Chess Club, 2001; Knight Tour Tessellations). Mathematical interest is especially focused on the Knight's Tours associated with the so-called magic squares on boards of various sizes, as previously discussed (Sustainability through Magically Dancing Patterns: 8x8, 9x9, 19x19 -- I Ching, Tao Te Ching / T'ai Hsüan Ching, Wéiqí (Go), 2008; 9-fold Magic Square Pattern of Tao Te Ching Insights -- experimentally associated with the 81 insights of the T'ai Hsüan Ching, 2006). Strategically creative: The Knight's move has long been associated with creativity and strategic surprise. The Knight is part of the emblem for the US Psyops as a traditional symbol of "special operations" -- signifying the ability to influence all types of warfare. It featured as the name of a German military operation (Operation Rösselsprung) to kill or capture Josip Broz Tito at Drvar during World War II. With respect to business strategy, Richard Pech and Greg Stamboulidis make the point that:
In a discussion of the current disruptive dynamics of global governance, termed "monkeying" for the purpose, as case was made for Reframing "monkeying" in terms of Knight's move patterns (2011). As discussed in another context (Navigating the psychological forces of "communication space", 2003), the knight's move in chess is especially interesting given their potential significance as the moves of a knight -- as a "noble" rather than as a "commoner". The strangeness of the knight's move, and its numerical symbolism, has traditionally been the focus of hypotheses connecting the origins and structure of chess with secret magical and religious rituals of ancient India. Further insights into the contrast between Predictability and pattern-breaking with respect to the Knight's move, featured in a subsequent exploration (Implication of Toroidal Transformation of the Crown of Thorns: design challenge to enable integrative comprehension of global dynamics, 2011). This notably featured the following animation.
Defamiliarization: As indicated above, the longer portion of the "L" in the Knight's move can be usefully associated with predictability -- especially that of linear thinking. The shorter portion is then usefully indicative of non-linear thinking. In literature, Victor Shklovsky, in relation to his technique of "Making Strange" has associated the Knight's move with the concept of ostranenie or defamiliarization, also translated as "estrangement" (The Knight's Move, 1923, p. 39). He argued for the need to turn something that has become over-familiar, like a cliché in the literary canon, into something revitalized. Michael Dorland (The Knight's Move: Reflections on the Translation of Culture/s. In: Jean-Paul Baillargeon (Ed.) The Handing Down of Culture, Smaller Societies, and Globalization):
The Knight's move has been related to a "leap of faith" by James E. Loder and W. Jim Neidhardt (The Knight's Move: the relational logic of the spirit in theology and science, 1992). In his extensive review, Richard H. Bube (The "Strange Loop" of Complementarity, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 45, December 1973, 270):
Pathological and schizophrenic: Curiously, but most appropriate to this argument, "Knight's move thinking" is defined by the medical profession as a thought disorder denoting a lack of connection between ideas, namely a loosening of associations. Considered to be similar to derailment of thought, it is characterized by odd, tangential associations between ideas that lead to disruptions in the smooth continuity of speech. The association between ideas is interpreted to be illogical, notably wandering between various trains of thought. The Knight's move is then a metaphor for the unexpected, and illogical, connections between ideas. The illogicality of the loosening of associations, which is found in schizophrenia, is contrasted with the flight of ideas which characterises hypomania. "Knight's move thinking" therefore features in the early diagnosis of schizophrenia. Gerard Drennan and Leslie Swartz (The paradoxical use of interpreting in psychiatry, Social Science and Medicine, 2002) argue that features such as loose associations, Knight's move thinking and derailment are well-defined and can therefore be quite clearly taught and illustrated, whereas others are more amorphous and rely a great deal on an overall impression of the patient's speech. For G. J. Turnbull (The Psychiatric Evaluation of Air Crew, 2006), "Knight's move" thinking is equated with "thought loss". A literary perspective is offered by Elizabeth Anderson is offered in a critique ("The Knight's Move": fluidity of identity and meaning in Mary Butts's Armed with Madness, Women: A Cultural Review, 18, 3, 2007, pp. 245-256). There seems to have been no effort to reconcile the cognitive implications in the two contrasting usages of Knight's move thinking. Worse, it would seem that there is an effort by the psychotherapeutic professions to treat non-linearity (valued in creativity, especially strategic creativity) as pathological. The so-called "loosening of associations" has proven to be variously essential to non-linear recognition of "correspondences" in both the sciences and the arts. The cognitive challenge has been highlighted in the question raised by Kenneth Lyen (Beautiful Minds: is there a link between genius and madness? SMA News, March 2002, 34, 3)
The issue is how to distinguish the pathological correspondences from the healthy, especially when the distinguishing process may overly rely on a form of rationality which inhibits such recognition. When is an aesthetic correspondence, perhaps enshrined in poetry, to be considered pathological -- and by whom? Understandings of correspondences have been explored separately, notably in the light of monstrous moonshine mathematics (Theories of Correspondences -- and potential equivalences between them in correlative thinking, 2007; Potential Psychosocial Significance of Monstrous Moonshine: an exceptional form of symmetry as a Rosetta stone for cognitive frameworks, 2007). It would appear that the psychotherapeutic professions have trapped themselves into equating linearity with desirable normalcy and non-linearity with the pathological -- as they choose to define it. This might be understood as an explanation for the conclusions of the study by James Hillman and Michael Ventura (We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy - And the World's Getting Worse, 1993). In this respect it is amusing to note that the proposed new edition of the "bible" of psychiatric diagnosis -- the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -- is currently faced with controversy regarding the reliability of diagnoses. The reliability in some cases has been claimed to be little better than chance (Peter Aldhous, DSM-5 in New Scientist: psychiatry's new diagnostic bible is creating headaches for doctors and patients alike, New Scientist, 19 May 2012). The final wording determines those who receive psychoactive drugs, insurance health coverage, or indefinite incarceration in secure mental hospitals. (cf H. A. Archera, et al., Knight's move thinking? Mild cognitive impairment in a chess player, Neurocase: the neural basis of cognition, 2005; Ashley Rule, Ordered Thoughts on Thought Disorder, The Psychiatrist, 2005 29, pp. 462-464). It might be asked whether any one school of psychotheraphy would fail to diagnose another as suffering from some form of Knight's move thinking. The contrast between the appreciation of Knight's move thinking and its deprecation as pathological is usefully summarized in uses of "crazy" in relation to creativity. In the scientific arena this is neatly articulated by the following much-cited exchange.
Insights from Knight's move thinkingIrrespective of any admiration associated with Knight's move thinking, the challenge is to locate articulations of how it works -- other than as a symbol. This may be clear in board games such as chess and go, but it is not clear how strategic competitive advantage in those arenas translates into other domains -- where it may indeed be valued as a symbol. It is therefore a pleasure to discover the keynote speech to the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference (Singapore, 2009) by Erica McWilliam (The Knight's Move: its relevance for educational research and development, 2009):
McWilliam reinforces the case for recognizing the future as requiring Knight's move thinking as articulated by William Gosling (Helmsmen and Heroes: control theory as a key to past and future, 1994):
Usefully McWilliam associates the Knight's moves with epistemological agility:
However it is the detailed articulation of how patterns of Knight's move thinking may be combined that McWilliam offers the most valuable insights of relevance to the case made here. Helpfully she contrasts her use of that approach:
Especially valuable is McWilliam's ability to adapt the formal insights of Dan Thomasson mentioned above, as a means of showing the complementarity of four disparate cognitive modes, notably with respect to representatives of different sets of stakeholders or disciplines who are called upon to work together.
McWilliam look at the tessellated patterning produced by multiple Knight's moves as a metaphor for designing respectful and productive research partnerships. This is seen as a break from the taken-for-granted field of partnerships and the strategies for achieving and sustaining them. In the case of education, it would mean that more time could be devoted to engaging with innovative thinkers and designers in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, rather than staying inside the smaller world of professional educators alone. Alternative representations: Knight's move, Swastika and BaGua ?Pattern of distinct Knight's moves: The variety of Knight's moves is usefully represented within a 3x3 matrix as shown below. Two sets of patterns may be distinguished: those passing around the central cell and those passing through the central cell (without starting or finishing there). Both bear a resemblance to the traditional yantra.
Formation of Swastika from Knight's moves: Complementary (or mirror image) paths, taken by two Knight's moves through the centre (left-hand image above), may be combined -- thereby to form opposite branches of a Swastika. This can be represented through the following animations.
A similar approach can be taken with the "Contextual" set of Knight's moves -- those avoiding the centre.
The "Avoidance Container" and Swastika can be readily combined together in further experimental animations -- of which the following is one example.
Swastika and BaGua: The Knight's moves, and the Swastika in both its forms, can be understood in relation to the Chinese BaGua and the 8 trigrams of which it is composed configured around an empty centre. Each trigram is denoted and distinguished by a characteristic configuration of broken and unbroken lines. The relation is represented in the following animation.
Qualitative distinctions: The BaGua pattern is of special interest in that it has been traditionally used to hold and distinguish the eight fundamental meanings associated with them as indicated below. As conditions of nature, these offer cognitive significance through their metaphorical implication.
Naturomimicry: sourcing nature for strategic metaphorsBiomimicry: There is much current interest in biomimicry as a source of inspiration for technical innovation. That argument with respect to the features of the environment can be extended to include the artefacts of technology, as separately discussed (Engendering a Psychopter through Biomimicry and Technomimicry: insights from the process of helicopter development, 2011). The argument can be extended further to the processes of nature -- perhaps as "naturomimicry". A degree of recognition to learning from natural processes is offered by Adi Wolfson, Dorith Tavor and Shlomo Mark (Sustainable Services: the natural mimicry approach, Journal of Service Science and Management, 2011). They argue, with respect to their sector, that a natural mimetic approach follows the ground rules of nature to characterize the sustainability of a service and to choose the most sustainable service alternative. A form of biomimicry is of course to be recognized in management texts such as that of Dudley Lynch and Paul Kordis (Strategy of the Dolphin; scoring a win in a chaotic world, 1988). Here management is urged to think like a "dolphin", rather than a "shark", in order to keep on top of the "carps". A reviewer in a management journal greeted it as "a welcome respite from other management books that urge us to think like samurais, Attila the Hun, or members of the Prussian General Staff.".The point to be made, as discussed separately, is whether a more systematic approach is required to discover what metaphors are beneficial to management thinking under what circumstances (Governance through Metaphor, 1987; Metaphoric Revolution: in quest of a manifesto for governance through metaphor, 1988). It may indeed be useful to think like a shark, or like a carp, under certain circumstances. A more surprising metaphor has been explored by Greg Hearn (If Your Company Were a Cockroach: how to survive in the new business ecology, 2007) Metaphors from nature: Much valuable inspiration from nature in general, rather than any particular species, has however been intimately related by the Chinese to the philosophy of BaGua -- whose formalism is presented above. The strategic applications, and their cognitive implications, have notably been recognized in one of the three schools of martial arts: Baguazhang. This adapts the BaGua principles in the light of understanding of the eight trigrams (identified above) -- each intimately associated with a natural condition or process. A classic Japanese text on swordsmanship, and the martial arts in general, by Miyamoto Musashi (The Book of Five Rings / Go Rin No Sho) continues to be valued for its strategic insights. The "rings" correspond to five chapters: The Book of Earth, The Book of Water, The Book of Fire, The Book of Wind and the The Book of Void. These could be readily associated with the BaGua/Swastika pattern above. It is such possibilities which are justified in some detail by Susantha Goonatilake (Toward a Global Science: mining civilizational knowledge, 1999) as discussed separately (Enhancing the Quality of Knowing through Integration of East-West metaphors, 2000). It should be noted that many strategic management texts currently emerging from Asia already derive insights from such cultural resources. Valuable insights are offered by A. C. Graham (Yin-Yang and the Nature of Correlative Thinking, The Institute of East Asian Philosophies, 1986). Transformation pathways characteristic of nature: Given the arguments above regarding "naturomimicry" in relation to the distinctions of the BaGua, there is a case for exploring the logical connectivity favoured by the psychiatric professions in terms of the degree of looseness of associations evident in the different states of matter, most typically water -- a symbol of human consciousness in its own right. In the case of water, the "connectivity" is framed there in terms of degree of molecular bonding. Clearly the mode favoured by those professions requires a high degree of bonding as an exemplification of normalcy -- corresponding to "solid" in the phase diagram below. Other modes are effectively deprecated without question. Water can however transform from its solid form into a liquid form, or into a gaseous form -- as the degree of bonding decreases. All forms are valued. One might ask what form might be associated with "wisdom".
The obsession with linear associations, and the deprecation of more fluid associations, has been explored from a strategic perspective by Edward de Bono (I Am Right and You are Wrong; From Rock Logic to Water Logic, 1991). It has been explored otherwise by Douglas Hofstadter (Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: computer models of the fundamental mechanisms of thought, 1995). Ecopsychological embodiment: In excluding consideration of the Swastika purely as a symbol, the above argument has presented the insights associated with appreciation of Knight's move thinking. This too, although the subject of extensive formal analysis -- both strategic (chess and go) and mathematical (Knight's tours) -- fails to identify qualitative distinctions between the different moves, possibly as intuitively sensed. These become evident to a degree in relation to the BaGua pattern. Consideration of "naturomimicry" -- as a degree of inspiration of inspiration to Asian strategic thinking -- highlights the possibility of a far higher degree of intimate cognitive engagement with the processes characteristic of nature. This has been discussed separately in relation to water, in the light of the work of Viktor Schauberger, as discussed separately (Enabling Governance through the Dynamics of Nature: exemplified by cognitive implication of vortices and helicoidal flow, 2010). Contextual Knight's moves and BaGua "Later Heaven" arrangement: The animations above have focused on the "Earlier Heaven" arrangement of the BaGua in relation to the Swastika. Of potential interest is the possibility that the "contextual" Knight's moves may be related to the "Later Heaven" arrangement", as tentatively explored in the following image. Given the experimental manner in which the contextual moves have been arranged, the correspondence would appear to be less successful. Other arrangements of those moves may prove more fruitful.
Climate change pathways: The argument above suggests the possibility of providing a form of tentative dynamic integration, through creative play, of the elements of climate as they figure in the external and inner environments, as explored separately (Playfully Changing the Prevailing Climate of Opinion: climate change as focal metaphor of effective global governance, 2005). The suggestion there is that computer-mediated play can provide templates through which to explore variants and possibilities, whether these are meaningful and acceptable or not. There is also the possibility that this process would highlight isomorphism -- and a form of resonance -- between pathways of changing climate and those characteristic of the shifting moods of individuals and groups that characterize the dynamics of public opinion. Transactional games: Elsewhere (Cardioid Attractor Fundamental to Sustainability: 8 transactional games forming the heart of sustainable relationship, 2005) an eightfold pattern of relationships was described in terms of a generalized understanding of transactional games understood as constituting a cycle. The "relationship games", in the light of the work of Edward Haskell (Generalization of the structure of Mendeleev's periodic table, 1972) and its development by Timothy Wilken (The Relationship Continuum, 2002), are there defined in terms of a "control component" and a "work component" as follows:
Lauburu: The possibility, and the challenge, can be highlighted through traditional static symbols of the "four elements" of both climate and of psychic integration (whether individual or collective) -- such as the four-fold lauburu (the Basque cross) or its many cross-like equivalents in other cultures -- most notably including the Swastika. In the case of the lauburu, each head (or arm) is drawn with three sweeps of a compass (upon a scribed cross, employing in each head a common centre but two settings, one the half of the other). Superimposing the two variants gives rise to another form of cross. In the Basque culture, the heads on the vertical axis represent female expression (emotional and perceptual) or the elements of fire and water. Those on the horizontal axis represent male energy (mental and physical) or the elements air and earth. Imanol Mujica (The Lauburu and Its Symbolism) considers that the lauburu symbolizes mankind, made up of four elements: Form, Life, Sensibility and Conscience. The first head symbolizes form or density, the second head symbolizes life or vitality, the third head symbolizes sensibility and the fourth head is the conscience state. Together they are held to represent nature in action and can be associated with the movement of the Earth around the Sun.
The lauburu could be related to conventional four-quadrant representations by rotating the symbol 45 degrees. It then lends itself to mapping both the 4-fold "elements" and their corresponding 4-fold personality types of thinking, feeling, sensation and intuition (as extensively explored by depth psychology following C G Jung). Such explorations relate to the four-quadrant synthesis of Ken Wilber [more | more]. A valuable commentary, informed by mathematical insights comparing the perspective of Jung and Wilber, is provided by Peter Collins (Clarifying Perspectives 2: Perspectives, Personality Types and Strings). Collins relates the 4-fold mapping to 8-fold mappings, to the 16-fold mapping of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and to a 24-fold mapping necessary to handle a further ("missing") 8 personality types. Construction of the lauburu in its two forms can be understood in several ways. The symbol itself, in its positive (right-facing) and negative (left-facing) variants, is derived from selectively colouring the result. On one count, this may be understood as giving rise to 24 parts. This is an interesting 2D variant on the notion of closest packing in 3D. Thought can also be given to the way in which the result is a 2D projection of a 3D variant -- with its extra axis having the same constructions on it. Stratagems and ploys characteristic of Knight's move thinkingPotentially to be considered as a further elaboration of the BaGua/Swastika pattern are the 36 classic stratagems of China (Gao Yuan, Lure the Tiger out of the Mountains: the thirty-six stratagems of ancient China, 1991). These are themselves reproduced from a document arguing for recognition of the Emergence of a Global Misleadership Council: misleading as vital to governance of the future? (2007).
The strategic "deviousness" of the Knight's move may be usefully considered in terms of confidence ploys -- tricks
These tables help to highlight the issue of the strategic ingenuity required to engage effectively with turbulent global conditions. The recognition of metaphorical inadequacy is then usefully seen as defective ingenuity, as argued by Thomas Homer-Dixon (The Ingenuity Gap, 2000). The book argues that the nature of problems faced by our society are becoming more complex and that our ability to implement solutions is not keeping pace. Homer-Dixon focuses upon complexities, unexpected non-linear results, and emergent properties. He takes an inter-disciplinary approach connecting political science with sociology, economics, history, and ecology. *** Complementary patterns of higher dimensional "avoidance"Ungraspable subtlety: In introducing this argument, attention was drawn to the challenge of subtlety and the associated difficulty and inappropriateness of seeking to "grasp" it and "define" it. As with the "dark energy" and "dark matter" hypothesized by physicists, there are no categories and modalities by which to describe it. Asserting that it is "below the radar" of consciousness is therefore in itself inadequate. That astrophysicists should currently hypothesize this "unknown" to represent 84% of what "matters" in providing a coherent understanding of the universe offers a humbling thought with respect to the adequacy of "logical" explanation if a global knowledge society (Global Strategic Implications of the "Unsaid", 2003).
Logically inaccessible: The manner in which the implicate domain is not "logical" could be related to the law of excluded middle (or the principle of excluded middle) whereby, for any proposition, either that proposition is true, or its negation is. Given the polarization across the diagrams above -- from the condition implied at one circumferential point to its opposite -- these can both be understood as features of an explicate order in cognitive terms. As the various Swastika diagrams illustrate, as with their "avoidance containers", it is the central cell of the 3x3 matrix which is cognitively inaccessible through conventional logic -- a "no go zone". As mentioned above with respect to use of poetic metaphor, there is a possibility of relating cognitively to that space through what might better be understood in terms of "complicity" -- or perhaps as a form of cognitive entanglement. In terms of a sense of identity, the argument could be considered consistent with that of Douglas Hofstadter (I Am a Strange Loop, 2007), as discussed separately (Sustaining a Community of Strange Loops: comprehension and engagement through aesthetic ring transformation, 2010). Topological insights into paradox: The following images, using the Möbius strip, were used in a previous exploration of the challenge how (not) to engage with this cognitive paradox (¡¿ Defining the objective ∞ Refining the subjective ?! Explaining reality ∞ Embodying realization, 2011). Both suggest understandings which relate to the discussion above.
Traversing subtlety on the Swastika pathways: With respect to the dynamics, of which the Swastika is a useful representation, the point was emphasized above that any Knight's move passes "through" the central cell -- though the implicate order and the "cognitive complicity" potentially associated with it. This may be understood as one form of "avoidance" -- of that cognitive void. Considering each cell as a potential "station", the Knight's move "train" cannot "stop" at the central "station". It might be understood as travelling "underground" there. The location is inaccessible through conventional logic, recalling the insight of Albert Einstein: The significant problems we face can not be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. A Knight's move can indeed be considered as a pathway, as in the mathematics of Knight's tours, however it may be more fruitful to consider it as a cognitive "tube" or conduit along which understanding may pass -- constrained by the tube as a container, as on an underground train. This allows reflection on the topological organization of such tubes in a cognitive space of higher dimensionality, suggesting the merits of exploring a Swastika network in three dimensions -- or more? The Klein bottle offers another way of reflecting on the "location" of the "no go area". Avoidance of subtlety: The complementary form above is the "avoidance container" -- in which the Knight's moves variously travel the circumferential cells "avoiding" the central cell. The understanding of such avoidance, and the associated style of communication, has been remarkably articulated in mathematical terms by Ron Atkin (Combinatorial Connectivities in Social Systems; an application of simplicial complex structures to the study of large organizations, 1977; Multidimensional Man: can man live in three dimensions? 1981) as separately summarized (Comprehension: Social organization determined by incommunicability of insights, 1995). Complementarity of cognitive modes: The two complementary patterns might then be contrasted as:
Avoidance in practice: The Knight's move processes of the "avoidance container" -- indicated to some degree by arrangements made with "a nod and a wink" -- have been succinctly expressed in the light of his cybernetic perspective by Stafford Beer in his adaptation of Le Chatelier's Principle:
Aspects have been separately explored in discussion of The Hidden Art : category manipulation (The Art of Non-Decision-Making -- and the manipulation of categories, 1997). This may be understood as a cognitive form of gerrymandering, as more recently discussed (Scientific Gerrymandering of Boundaries of Overpopulation Debate, 2012). An "Avoidance Container" can also be fruitfully explored in terms of the projection of a pattern of Knight's moves onto a torus (Implication of Toroidal Transformation of the Crown of Thorns: design challenge to enable integrative comprehension of global dynamics, 2011). On a larger scale, this is the dynamic of the multiplicity of worthy fora in which urgent issues are discussed. Strategically such contextuality may be reviewed as a device for problem avoidance, as separately discussed (Lipoproblems: Developing a Strategy Omitting a Key Problem -- the systemic challenge of climate change and resource issues, 2009). The situation might be caricatured by the following "map", discussed separately (Mapping the Global Underground Articulating Insightful Population Constraint Consideration (IPCC), 2010).
Confidelity: confidence in confidentiality? Strategic engagement involving Knight's move thinking requires a degree of secrecy to benefit from surprise. When undertaken by a group, the emphasis is on confidentiality. The irony in relation to governance is the need to elicit confidence -- as has been only too evident in the current financial crisis. This suggests a curious problematic relationship between confidentiality and confidence -- highlighting the illusive nature of "confidelity", as separately explored (Primary Global Reserve Currency: the Con? Cognitive implications of a prefix for sustainable confidelity, 2011)
Competition as war -- between the "faculties"As noted above, business "growth" can be understood as facilitated by the forms of deception characteristic of Knight's move thinking (Richard Pech and Greg Stamboulidis, How strategies of deception facilitate business growth, Journal of Business Strategy, 31, 2010, 6, pp. 37- 45) Recognizing corporate competition as warfare: The extent to which competition by business is to be characterized as war, is remarkably explored by Burkard Sievers (Competition as War: Towards a socio-analysis of war in and among corporations, Socio-Analysis, 2000). He argues:
Sievers endeavours to show how capitalist competition is effectively a form of ongoing warfare in and among corporations. With a focus on Volkswagen, his hypothesis is that "similar dynamics are found throughout the automobile industry and have a major impact on the business strategies of many, if not most, corporations in their desperate longing to gain or maintain a predominant role as global players". In the case of Volkswagen:
Unthought thought: Sievers highlights the role of the "unthought thought", citing various authors (C. Bollas, The Shadow of the Object: psychoanalysis of the unthought known, 1987, F. Fornari, The Psychoanalysis of War, 1966; V. D. Volkan, The Need to Have Enemies and Allies: from clinical practice to international relationships, 1988):
Psychotic organization and the shadow: Very usefully, in relation to the arguments regarding Knight's move thinking, Sievers draws upon his own insights into "psychotic organization" (Psychotic Organisation as a Metaphoric Frame for the Socio-Analysis of Organisational and Interorganisational Dynamics, Administration and Society, 1999) as well as work by W. G. Lawrence (Thinking Refracted in Organisations: the finite and the infinite / the conscious and the unconscious, 1999) as presented to a symposium of the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations. Such "refraction" could well be considered a characteristic of framing through the Knight's move pattern -- and the associated tendency to denial and "passing the buck". Whereas organizational practice and contemporary literature on mergers focuses predominantly on rational economic and managerial perspectives, the shadow side of these ventures has been explored by Jinette de Gooijer (The Murder in Merger: a systems psychodynamic exploration of a corporate merger, 2009). The "shadow side", characterized by the "unthought thought", can be associated with unasked questions (Portia Bell Humea and Joan V. Bonduranta. The significance of unasked questions in the study of conflict. Inquiry: an interdisciplinary journal of philosophy, 7, 1964, 1-4, 1964, pp. 318-327)
Conflict between academic faculties: Controversially, the nature of this conflict was recognized amongst academic faculties in 1798 by Immanuel Kant (The Conflict of the Faculties, including The Conflict of the Philosophy Faculty with the Theology Faculty, 1794) -- usefully framed as follows:
Conflict between cognitive faculties: The theme of conflict of the faculties has been variously explored. Of interest here is the manner in which it extends to the contrasting cognitive faculties and metaphors of strategic significance. For example, it is useful to explore the manner in which "vision" is used as the primary metaphor of strategic thinking and presentation, whereas other "competing" metaphors may play a vital role even if neglected in some many fora, as discussed separately (Developing a Metaphorical Language for the Future, 1994). Politicians, talking "vision", avoid at their peril any apparent neglect of the ability to "hear" and even to "touch". Their proposals may be framed by opponents in terms of their "smell". Eight clusters of players in the global financial board game?Game-playing: The above argument has been designed to give sharper focus to both game-playing and blame-gaming characteristic of the response to the financial crisis -- in which all are variously accused (most notably by each other), whilst denying effective responsibility, and arranging their collective avoidance of indictment. The argument follows previous efforts to explore these dynamics (Monkeying with Global Governance Emergent dynamics of three wise monkeys in a knowledge-based society, 2011; Implication of Toroidal Transformation of the Crown of Thorns: design challenge to enable integrative comprehension of global dynamics, 2011). A further degree of denial of responsibility is evident in the conversion of a financial crisis engendered by humanity into what amounts to a natural disaster beyond human control -- and therefore the perfect excuse for past mismanagement (Responsibility for Global Governance: Who? Where? When? How? Why? Which? What?, 2008) Identification of clusters: Has there been any formal attempt at a cluster analysis to determine the clusters of players on the board -- as a prelude to any systemic analysis of their interaction? If not, why not? To the extent that the "players" complicit in the game engendering the financial crisis can be usefully understood as constituting a "team" within the collective unconscious, the question is what role they respectively play in the psychodrama. In that respect it is appropriate to note the interest of Shklovsky as a political activist in both the Knight's move and in dramatic plots. The roles may be understood as echoing in part an "eightfold way" as yet to be discovered, or the team roles clustered by Meredith Belbin in the Belbin Team Inventory. Those playing strategically on the financial scene -- "in confidence" but "with confidence" -- could be clustered as follows, for example
The players are likely to engage in both risk-taking and risk-avoidance strategies. Those who are risk averse then engage in dynamics characterized by the "avoidance container" around the centre -- maintaining the status quo. The Swastika -- across the centre -- then characterizes risk taking. More generally it may characterize deicsion-making and commitment. The Swastika pattern of moves is then usefully associated with perpetration and inducing shock. The contrast recalls the distinction made in a report to the Club of Rome between "maintenance learning" and "shock learning" (James W. Botkin, Mahdi Elmandjra and Mircea Maltiza, No Limits to Learning: Bridging the Human Gap, 1980). Forms of cognitive order: As indicated by such as Magoroh Maruyama, each cognitive framework ("mindscape") potentially offers a distinct sense of "law and order" (Systems of Categories Distinguishing Cultural Biases, 1993). It might well be asked why only one single sense of "law and order" is currently considered appropriate to the governance of a complex system. A contrast is offered by translation systems which typically assess validity through a variety of "modules". A further sense is offered by social contexts in which attention is accorded to both conventional law and to that of the tradition of an indigenous people, or to that associated with a a religion (canonic law, sharia law). What varieties of alternative "law and order" merit consideration? Quest for a strategic eightfold way through metaphor? The classical constraints on human information processing capacity focus the quest for configuration of complementarity strategies in terms of "seven plus or minus two" -- namely a possible "eightfold way" (George A. Miller, The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: some limits on our capacity for processing information, Psychological Review, 63, 1956, 2, pp. 81-97). Consistent with that constraint, Eugene Bardach has developed an Eightfold Path of policy analysis. A distinct approach of relevance to the above argument is the identification of clusters of cognitive modes which might dispose to preference for particular strategic styles, as discussed separately (Systems of Categories Distinguishing Cultural Biases, 1993). As with the symbolism associated with the BaGua, a further approach is through sets of symbols and associated categories, conveniently summarized by the Duversity group (References for the Octad). There is the curious possibility of exploring financial derivatives through the array of fundamental particles in the light of the proposed eightfold way of physics -- in that, as vehicles for confidence, a key issue with respect to derivatives is their viability in terms of credibility over time, imaginatively analogous to the period of existence prior to the decay of subatomic particles ordered by that proposal. As with the financial derivatives, such particles are also distinguished by a degree of "spin" and are variously to be understood as derivatives of other particles. Such a speculative approach suggests a "language" through which tentatively to explore the array of derivatives in the light of the more fundamental forms of confidence and credibility from which they derive. Given the degree of dependence on such confidence, the possibility merits attention. A degree of feasibility is evident from the paper by William F. Sharpe (Nuclear Financial Economics, Stanford Research Paper 1275, 1993; subsequently published in: Risk Management: Problems and Solutions, 1995, pp. 17-35). Human psychology and sustainable development: The following animations, whilst clearly caricatures, suggest an alternative to the conventional linear representation of the dynamics of the global economy. Whilst consistent with recognition of economic cycles and business cycles, they suggest a further relation to the psychological dimensions so usefully documented by Shiller and Akerlof (2009) -- and beyond their argument to the many 8-fold articulations of personality types and modes of thought. Indication of the Swastika as an emergent pattern within those dynamics suggests how surprising transformation relationships may become apparent as creative strategic opportunities -- for good or for ill. Their nature is of course more likely to be seriously explored within Asian mindsets -- and only tardily acknowledged by the currently dominant economic mindsets of the West. Now that China is expected to emerge as the dominant superpower, it is fruitful to recall the early analysis of Scott A. Boorman (A Protracted Game: a wei-ch'i interpretation of maoist revolutionary strategy, 1971), as discussed separately (System Dynamics, Hypercycles and Psychosocial Self-organization: exploration of Chinese correlative understanding, 2010).
ConclusionThe argument has drawn attention to a subtle strategic (sixth) sense -- implicit rather than explicit -- typically associated with intuition for many in every walk of society. It is evident in the detection of an opportunity for a deal, or for a confidence trick. It is a sense familiar to players of chess and go, and clearly in other games where "instinct" is valued, whether or not it proves to be illusory in a given instance. It is much valued in various Eastern martial arts. It could be associated with "being in the zone" of flow psychology. The concern here is indeed the manner in which this sense is exploited in giving rise to questionable patterns of action (as with the exacerbation of the financial crisis). However there is also the possibility that more fruitful recognition of the strategic role of that sense could be a vital key to the challenges of governance in turbulent conditions. It is not for nothing that chess and go have long been valued in the cultivation of strategic insight. It is sadly ironic that as the noble characteristic of a "Knight" it is also characteristic of the historical exploitation by the nobility, and their current equivalents, in abusing public confidence (Abuse of Faith in Governance, 2009). Given the curious strategic relationship in chess between rook (castle) and Knight, and in the absence of a relevant verb "to Knight", it is somewhat extraordinary that the verb form of "rook" is used to name various forms of cheating, as in "they rooked me of my inheritance". It is perhaps appropriately strange that strategic engagement involving Knight's move thinking implies a degree of secrecy. When undertaken by a group, the emphasis is on confidentiality. The irony in relation to governance is the need to elicit confidence -- as has been only too evident in the current financial crisis. This suggests a curiously problematic relationship between confidentiality and confidence which merits exploration. Exploring the possibility of a degree of relationship with related insights from Chinese culture would seem to be appropriate in this period of an emerging role of China on the global scene. Whilst such relationships may seem questionable from a Western strategic perspective, it is improbable that the evolution of Asian strategic thinking will be handicapped by deprecation of insights they have long valued. As with appreciation of strategic insights from chess in the West, Asian cultures may continue to seek competitive advantage from the subtler insights of go -- as previously demonstrated by Scott A. Boorman (A Protracted Game: a wei-ch'i interpretation of maoist revolutionary strategy, 1971). The question is whether marrying Eastern and Western metaphors in some way can elicit a pattern more relevant to sustainable development, as implied by the articulation of James P. Carse (Finite and Infinite Games: a vision of life as play and possibility, 1986). Do the animations above offer a sense of the nature of infinite games? As a technical footnote, the various animations are suggestive of many further refinements using other transition effects and more extensive consideration of design -- in particular in relation to the speed of the animations and the possibility of their control by the user. These could improve their educational and mnemonic potential (cf. In Quest of Mnemonic Catalysts -- for comprehension of complex psychosocial dynamics, 2007). The transformation of the Swastika into the "Avoidance Container", and back, is very suggestive of the well-known variants of the Tetris game. One experiment in clarifying such visualization possibilities is through the use of SVG rather than GIF animation (as above). The following SVG, although not interactive, has the advantage that the code takes the form of ordinary text which can be modified with relative ease -- notably changing colours and speed according to aesthetic preferences (right-click to see source). Currently the cycle terminates after a minute.
ReferencesGeorge A. Akerlof and Robert J. Shiller. Animal Spirits: how human psychology drives the economy, and why it matters for global capitalism. Princeton University Press (2009) [summary] Ron Atkin:
Morris Berman. Coming to Our Senses: body and spirit in the hidden history of the West. Simon and Schuster, 1989 David Bohm. Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Routledge, 1980 Scott A. Boorman. A Protracted Game: a wei-ch'i interpretation of maoist revolutionary strategy. Oxford University Press, 1971 [text] James W. Botkin, Mahdi Elmandjra and Mircea Maltiza. No Limits to Learning: Bridging the Human Gap -- a Report to the Club of Rome. Pergamon, 1980 James P. Carse. Finite and Infinite Games: a vision of life as play and possibility. Ballantine Books, 1986 [summary] Edward de Bono. I Am Right and You are Wrong: From Rock Logic to Water Logic. Penguin, 1991 Jinette De Gooijer. The Murder in Merger: a systems psychodynamic exploration of a corporate merger. Karnac Books, 2009 Michael Dorland. The Knight's Move: Reflections on the Translation of Culture/s. In: The Handing Down of Culture, Smaller Societies, and Globalization, Grubstreet Editions, 2004, pp. 89-97 [text] Susantha Goonatilake. Toward a Global Science: mining civilizational knowledge. Indiana University Press, 1999 William Gosling. Helmsmen and Heroes: control theory as a key to past and future. Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1994. William Gosling and Donald Frome. The Definite Maybe: all you need to know about God, Life and Science. Xlibris, 2001 A. C. Graham. Yin-Yang and the Nature of Correlative Thinking. Singapore, The Institute of East Asian Philosophies, 1986 Clive Hamilton. Growth Fetish. Allen and Unwin, 2003 [summary] Greg Hearn. If Your Company Were a Cockroach: how to survive in the new business ecology. Queensland University of Technology, 2007 Greg Hearn and David Rooney (Eds.). Knowledge Policy: challenges for the 21st century. Edward Elgar, 2008 James Hillman and Michael Ventura. We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy - And the World's Getting Worse, HarperCollins, 1993 [summary] Douglas Hofstadter:
Thomas Homer-Dixon. The Ingenuity Gap: how can we solve the problems of the future? Knopf, 2000 [summary] Mark Johnson. The Meaning of the Body: aesthetics of human understanding. University of Chicago Press, 2007. Immanuel Kant. The Conflict of the Faculties. University of Nebraska Press, 1992 W. T. Jones. The Romantic Syndrome: toward a new method in cultural anthropology and the history of ideas. The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1961 [summary] George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By. University of Chicago Press, 1980 [summary] W. G. Lawrence:
Monica Lee. Sticks and stones: decision making by rumour. Society and Business Review, 4, 2009, I 2, pp. 123-132 [abstract] Bob Lloyd. The Growth Delusion. Sustainability, 2009, 1, pp. 516-536 [text] James E. Loder and W. Jim Neidhardt. The Knight's Move: the relational logic of the spirit in theology and science. Helmers and Howard, 1992 [review] Dudley Lynch and Paul L. Kordis. Strategy of the Dolphin. New York, Ballantine, 1988. Erica McWilliam. The Knight's Move: its relevance for educational research and development. National Institute of Education in Singapore. 2009 [text] Thomas Merton. The Way of Chuang Tzu. New Directions, 1969 Michael Meyerhofer. Damnatio Memoriae. Brick Road Poetry Press, 2011 Miyamoto Musashi. The Five Rings (Gorin No Sho); the real art of Japanese management. Bantam, 1982 Malcolm Quinn. The Swastika: constructing the symbol. Routledge, 1994 John Ralston Saul. The Unconscious Civilization. House of Anansi, 1995 Subhash Sharma:
Robert J. Shiller:
Burkard Sievers:
Viktor Shklovsky:
Nassim Nicholas Taleb. The Black Swan: the impact of the highly improbable. Random House, 2007 [summary] Adi Wolfson, Dorith Tavor and Shlomo Mark. Sustainable Services: the natural mimicry approach. Journal of Service Science and Management, 2011, 4, pp. 125-131 [text] Gao Yuan. Lure the Tiger out of the Mountains: the thirty-six stratagems of ancient China. Piatkus, 1991
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