The Unlearning Organisation LO9841

BrooksJeff@aol.com
Mon, 9 Sep 1996 08:57:20 -0400

In a message dated 96-09-02 (LO9684) Martin Wood writes:

> I'd also felt that the word "unlearning" wasn't quite appropriate, and
> wondered if it was worth re-visiting the unfreeze-move-refreeze model....
>
> Summarising, the "unfreezing" stage is one where there a recognition that
> things have to change, and a willingness to make a change. "Move" is when
> change take place, and the "refreeze" stage is when all the changes are in
> place, and everyone (in theory) settles down to the new way of "doing
> things round here". Personally, I think that the term "re-freezing" isn't
> very helpful these days ( ... but that's another story ... )

Martin,

This makes me think of the concept of "punctuated equilibrium" in
evolution theory. I think of this as a result of causal loops - the
equilibria (probably "attractors" in chaos theory) are self-reinforcing
("coherent" is the word I've used before), so the system actively retains
relative stability for some period of time.

I've thought about how to characterize the punctuation/change process with
causal loops. One way I've pictured it for myself is that rapid,
qualitative change occurs when some loop within the system shifts from
balancing to reinforcing or vice versa. But then I think that it only
looks like a loop has shifted - in a larger context there's probably
another loop that feeds into the loop that seems to have shifted.

-Jeff (BrooksJeff@AOL.com)

-- 

BrooksJeff@aol.com

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