Building the Psycho - History

(for French, click on the flag)

 

My first intent was to find a representation of human activities as attractive as "psycho - history" was.
I refer to the theory imagined by Isaac Asimov in his space opera "Foundation".
Of course, the dream of a young man is not necessary a good start to develop a scientific theory.
Nevertheless, such a dream can lead you, pushes you to look around to find what can help you.
In brief it turns your mind in such way that utopia became conceivable.

But, it is not enough to find my way, the most difficult remains to show the way to the others (translation in English is not the smallest one !).

In fact, to communicate a theory supposes that interlocutors share some knowledge, or way of thinking. Their common attitude defines their common "paradigm". Base on which the theory have to be built.
When the new theory is in contradiction with the usual way of thinking, it has no chance to be heard, before the "paradigm" itself changes.

This is the case of the theory presented there.

That is why, as a complement of the "psycho - history" theory itself, I had to precise all the concepts I had to use.
For such an enterprise, the web authorizes a no - linear presentation, where the reader can go deeper on one particular subject, and come back on the main stream of the presentation, or just look at the head lines.

Just one more point about terminology : the term "psycho - history" designs an ideal goal, but before that end, the work done until now comes from the so called "system analysis".

This is the first step of the adventure; after that, and if you show some interest, we could go further.

And now, if you are ready for this adventure, go ahead !



Summary :
Introduction : quelques considérations épistémologiques sur le sujet (not yet translated)
Stability and Information : The basic physical concepts we have used here.
The theory :
Synchronic Analysis : Elementary Model presentation
Diachronic Analysis : The tool for living system description
Living Systems Thermodynamics : The way from qualitative to quantitative description

I Ching : Link between the absolute structure and the hexagrams of the I Ching

Examples of use:
Structure of the scientific revolutions: an illustration of the theory of T. Kuhn
Organizations : A modelization of bureaucratic dysfunctions (as per "March & Simon" description)
Structure of the Personality : A systemic approach of Lacan's theory.


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As you may understand, I invite you to complete this exploration, to establish what could be seen really as THE "psycho- history" theory.
Here is just the beginning.
We have a lot of work in front of us :
At a theoritical level : :
To define our model as a "fractal" figure.
To define the organization's "critical states" by means of the "normalization groups".
At a practical level :
It could be possible to use Yi King symbols to complete our model.
It could be possible to use systemic analysis as a management tool.
We have the opportunity to develop for the first time a tool for the "new age" era.


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Don't hesitate to contact me at :
isa.al.simon@wanadoo.fr

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page updated on 02/02/99
author : Alain SIMON
© copyright 1998 Alain SIMON
adresse : isa.al.simon@wanadoo.fr

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