RE: Help understanding theory of knowledge.

["Vic Forte" <vic@vichara.f9.co.uk>]

Sorry to keep on about this. If I am boring you, please say so.

But I think I have worked out a connection between theory of knowledge and
systems thinking (I am sure that this is all old hat for many of you). I
would like some responses if possible either here or by email.

It seems to follow from what WED says that knowledge only exists in relation
to a system. Is this right? This fits in with his idea of operational
definitions, namely that a fact only exists if the system giving rise to
that fact is also specified.

An example used by Stafford Beer is that of a market research organisation.
A company commissions two market research projects which come up with
conflicting results. Which of them is right? Beer says that you must take
into account the system which produced the results. A manager may not
interpret either of them as being right or wrong in any absolute sense.

A further conclusion that seems to follow logically is this:

If knowledge depends on the system
And if the system depends upon purpose
Then knowledge depends upon purpose

This seems to have practical application for, for instance the use of
control charts. A state of statistical control only exists in relation to a
purpose.

Is this right?

Beer says that for there to be control, you must also answer the question
"why".

For those of you interested in the subject I would recommend chapters 11 to
15 of Decision and Control by Stafford Beer.

Finally many thanks to those of you who have helped my in this struggle to
understand, those who have replied here on the DEN, and also sent me private
e-mails on the subject.
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