PREFACE How This Treatise Came to Be Written vii
INTRODUCTION Paradox Lost and Found. Dimensions of the Problem xi
I HISTORICAL OVERVIEW. The Primal Scenario Early Prophets. Korzybski. From Potter to Peter by Way of Parklnson. 3
II FIRST PRICIPAL. The Foundamental Theorem. The Law of Conservation of Anergy. The Big-Bang Theorem. Laws of Growth. 9
III THE MEYSTERIOUS WAYS OF SYSTEMS.The Generalized Uncertainty Principle. Climax Design. The Non-Additivity Theorem. 16
IV FEEDBACK. The Principle of Le Chatelier. The Power of Positive Feedback. Oscillating Systems. 23
V FUNCTIONARY'S FALSITY AND THE OPERATIONAL FALLACY. 32
VI INSIDE SYSTEMS. The F.L.A.W., Systems-Delusions, The Coemcieat of Fiction, Systems-People, Manager's Mirage, Orwell's Inversion. 39
Vll ELEMENTARY SYSTEMS-FUNCTIONS. ImpOtent potentate Syndrome. Adminlstrators Anxi-ety 49
VIII ADVANCED SYSTEMS.FUNCTIONS The Functional indeterminacy Theom (F.I.T.) The Newtontian Law of Systems-Intertia. 54
IX SYSTEMS-FAILURE (THEORY OF ERRORS) Failure-Mode Theorems. The Fail-Safe Thorem. 61
X APPLIED SYSTEMANTICS 1: PRACTICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN. The System Law of Gravity(Vector Theory) 67
Xl APPLIED SYSTEMANTICS 2: MANAGEMENT AND OTHER MYTHS. Catalytic Managership The "Problem" Problem 72
XII APPLIED SYSTEMANTICS 3: TAMING SYSTEMS. 77
ENVOI BEYOND EXPERTISE. 85
APPENDICES
I Annotated Compendium of Basic Systems-Axioms, Theorem, Corollaries, etc. 87
II First Biennial Readers' Self-Evaluation Quiz. 85
III Reader' Tear-out Feedback Sheet. 98
IV Annual "Aunty" Awards for Systems Antics of the Year. 99
V Antics Entry Blank. 103
VI Glorssary. 104
BIBLIOGRAPHY 109
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