All Resources

Course : TD866_3 Nature Matters: Systems Thinking and Experts (2009)

TD866_3 Nature Matters: Systems Thinking and Experts

Categories: Education

Tags: courseeducationenvironmentopen universitypolicysystems thinkingukuniversity

Publisher:The Open University

Author(s):—Unknown—

Published: 2009 • Delivery Format: Online (Internet)

Summary

Provided by The Open University under their OpenLearn website as a free study units with a discussion forum. Study independently at your own pace or join a group and use the free learning tools to work with others.

Time: 15 hours
Level: Advanced

This unit explores conceptual tools for assisting our thinking and deliberation on what matters. The notion of ‘framing’ nature is introduced and three readings provide an understanding of systems thinking for explicitly framing issues of environmental responsibility.

From The Open University:

This unit explores conceptual tools for assisting our thinking and deliberation on what matters. In Section 1, a reading by Ronald Moore introduces the notion of ‘framing’ nature, raising the perceived paradox of inevitably devaluing an aesthetically pleasing unframed entity. Three further readings, two from Fritjof Capra and one from Werner Ulrick (all of which are quite short and markedly reduced from their original courses), provide an understanding of systems thinking for explicitly framing issues of environmental responsibility. The development of systems literacy (referred to by Capra in terms of ecoliteracy and by Ulrich in terms of critical systems thinking) is explored to counter the sometimes debilitating dualistic positioning on environmental matters alluded to by writers such as Talbott, Light and Higgs amongst many others.

Section 2 focuses more on how conceptual tools can help to inform better policy and action regarding environmental matters. Here, a reading by Robyn Eckersley critically explores the importance and limitations of environmental pragmatism for informing policy. Finally, ideas of cognitive justice are explored in a reading by Shiv Visvanathan, who suggests a need for continually developing constructive space between scientific experts and lay experts in order to inform policy and action on what matters that reflects a wider constituency, and that is more specific to eco-cultural circumstances.

 

Content / Structure

Introduction Learning Outcomes
  • 1 Framing nature matters: from language to systems thinking
    • 1.1 Framing nature using language tools
    • 1.2 A framing paradox: experiencing nature with cognitive tools
    • 1.3 Framing nature matters as systems
    • 1.4 Nature matters in terms of a critical systems literacy
  • 2 Supporting environmental conversation: policy and action
    • 2.1 Dealing with change in what matters: ethics, policy and action
    • 2.2 Environmental pragmatism: positioning expert support
    • 2.3 Citizens in conversation with nature and experts
  • 3 Next steps
References Acknowledgements

Original Copyright © 2009 The Open University. Now made available within the Creative Commons framework under the CC Attribution – Non-commercial licence (see http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/).

Reviews

Be the first to review this course - TD866_3 Nature Matters: Systems Thinking and Experts

Related Resources

Elsewhere On The Internet






Return to Previous Page

All articles/posts © of the respective authors

Site design and architecture © 2010 - 2019 Eclectica Systems Ltd.