Essays In Tektology: The General Science Of Organization

ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY GEORGE GORELIK A..Bogdanov Essays in Tektology THE GENERAL SCIENCE OF ORGANIZATION SECOND e EDITION THE SYSTEMS INQUIRY SERIES Published by Intersystems Publications Eh Ii Ii 'Ia Gift of Linda o. Stanford 'THE UNIVERSITY LqHtARIES MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Ell II II Ie A. Bogdanov ~ . ~says in Tektology: mE GENERAL SCIENCE OF ORGANIZATION . SECOND EDITION ~ THE SYSTEMS INQUIRY SERIES Systems inquiry is grounded in a philosophical base of a systems view of the world. It has formulated theoretical postulates, conceptual images and paradigms. and developed strategies and tools of systems methodology. Systems inquiry is both conclusion oriented (knowledge production) and decision oriented (knowledge utilization). It uses both analytic and synthetic modes of thinking and it enables u.s to understand and work with ever increasing complexities that surround us and which we are part of. The Systems Inquiry Series aims to encompass all three domains of systems science: systems philosophy, systems theory and systems technology. Contributions introduced in the Series may focus on anyone or combinations of these domains or deVelop and explain relationships among domains and thus portray the systemic nature of systems inquiry. Five kinds of presentations are considered in the Series: (1) original work by an author or authors. (2) edited compendium organized around a common theme, (3) edited proceedings of symposia or colloquy. (4) uanslations from original works. and (5) out of print works of special significance. Appearing in high quality paperback format, books in the Series will be moderately priced in order to make them accessible to the various publics who have an inter~st in or are involved in the systems movement. SERIES EDITORS BELA H. BANATHY and GEORGE KLIR ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY GEORGB GORELIK :1 A.·Bogdanov V Essays in Tektology THE GENERAL SCIENCE OF ORGANIZATION SECOND .1 ..... EDITION .' . ' Ii e T H E SYSTEMS '; . , INQUIRY SERIES . Published by Inters!stems Publications Copyright @ 1984 of the English Translation (second edition) by Intersystems Publications Copyright © 1980 of the English Translation (nrst edition) by Intersystems Publications All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN U.S.A. Published by Intersystems Publications No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of . Intersystems Publications (p.O. Box 624, Seaside, California 93955). ISBN 0-91410S·Q6·X Contents INTRODUCTION References I I Ix PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION OF TEKTOLOGY, I xiii VOLUME I PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION OF TEKTOLOGY I. WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL SCIENCE? 1. The Unity of the Organizational Point of View i. The Orpnlzadonal Activity of Mankind II. The Orpnlzadonal Activity of Nature 2. 3. I I The Unity of Organizational Methods I The Path to the Organizational Science 1 4 6 i. The Orpnizational Point of View In Primitive and Religious Thought I 11 ii. The Unity of Organizational Methods in Generalizing Sciences I 14 iii. Popular Tektology I 17 iv. SpeciaJi13tion and Transfer of Methods I 21 I xv v. Contemporary Thought and the Idea of the General Unity of Organizational Methods I 26 vi. Proletariat and the Universal Organizational Science II.