[Xmca-l] Re: Systems views [leontievactivity]

[Andy Blunden]

Do you mean "functionalist" approaches, Christine?
Andy

Huw Lloyd wrote:
> Hi Christine,
>
> Thanks for this.  I am a little confused and curious.  In what way are
> functional approaches not a part of these systems?
>
> Luria (1963, p.35) provides a good working definition in line with how tend
> to think about them in this work:
>
> “The view has often been expressed in the literature that the term
> “function” implies two totally different concepts. On the one hand it may
> denote the direct and manifest activity of a tissue (the secretory
> functions of the glands, the contractile function of muscle, and so on); in
> this sense the “function” naturally is characteristic of and inseparable
> from the particular tissue; the tissue cannot change its function nor take
> on a new one.
>
> On the other hand the term “function” may have a completely different
> meaning when we speak of “functions” as the basic form of adaption of the
> living organism to its environment and the principal manifestations of its
> vital activity. Expressions such as the “respiratory functions”, the
> “digestive function” or the complex “locomotor functions” and, finally, the
> still more complex “psychological functions” (speech, writing, and so on)
> have a quite different meaning. We are concerned here with complex adaptive
> activity (biological at some stages of development and socio-historical at
> others), satisfying a particular demand and playing a particular role in
> the vital activity of the animal. A complex adaptive “function” such as
> this will usually be executed by a group of structural units and, as
> Anokhin (1947) showed, these will be integrated into a “functional system.”
> The parts of this system may be scattered over a wide area of the body and
> united only in the execution of their common task (for example, respiration
> or locomotion). Between these parts there is a pliable yet strong temporary
> connexion, uniting them into one system and synchronizing their activity.
> This “functional system” works as a complete entity, organizing the flow of
> excitation and co-ordinating the activity of individual organs.”
> Best,
> Huw
>
> On 21 August 2013 06:51, <schweighartc@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Hi Huw ,Lubomir,
>> Work in the systems community since the seventies has made contributions
>> which are not eclectic, moving beyond functional to phenomenological
>> approaches.
>> I am working in an area relating these at present.
>> Other researchers begin with the work of Bogdanov to examine shared roots.
>> Christine
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
>   

-- 
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*Andy Blunden*
Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/
Book: http://www.brill.nl/concepts
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