The Use and Abuse of Vegetational Concepts

Description

"The balance of nature" is a widely-held belief that ecosystems function cooperatively rather than hierarchically, gradually adjusting for change - a concept that was co-opted by early computer scientists and hippies alike. This program examines that concept and how its mechanistic but egalitarian philosophy came to permeate the zeitgeist of the mid-20th century, only to be debunked later on as history proceeded to show that systems without leaders have a tendency to fail. The video features commentary from influential systems scientist Jay Forrester; footage of Buckminster Fuller, who popularized eco-cybernetic concepts; and former commune members discussing the limitations of applying computer theory to interpersonal behavior.

Runtime

52 min

Series

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

[2012], c2011

Database

Films on Demand

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