Theory and Practice of Contrast

Rezensionen / Stimmen

The book "Theory and Practice of Contrast" shows that investigating the
foundations of our knowledge is not idle and that it is possible to
consider fundamental issues in a constructive way, providing concrete
solutions and benefits. The lack of such research today is the cause of
stagnation in many fields. I believe that this book will help to draw
attention to that problem and unleash our intellectual potential, which
is blocked and cannot be realized in the current (superficial) paradigms.

Professor Zofia Rosinska-Zielinska Warsaw University,? Department of Philosopy The book "Theory and Practice of Contrast" shows that investigating the
foundations of our knowledge is not idle and that it is possible to
consider fundamental issues in a constructive way, providing concrete
solutions and benefits. The lack of such research today is the cause of
stagnation in many fields. I believe that this book will help to draw
attention to that problem and unleash our intellectual potential, which
is blocked and cannot be realized in the current (superficial) paradigms.

Professor Zofia Rosinska-Zielinska Warsaw University,? Department of Philosopy

The book, entitled "Theory and Practice of Contrast: Integrating Science, Art and Philosophy," written by Mariusz Stanowski and published by CRC Press, introduces systems thinking and logic into the underlying foundation of the general knowledge.

The most basic concepts introduced here are those of contrast, complexity, and emergence in very general terms. In particular, the concept of contrast explains what a relationship a system's elements are general in - the interactions of the elements' features that are either common or differentiating. It is from contrast(s) that complexity and emergence appear naturally. By treating complexity in reality as a binary structure, this concept is expectedly applicable to any system if the system's structure can be binarily coded. As well noted, emergence represents one of the very central properties of systems investigated in systems science (Lin et al., 2012). It reflects how macro-level properties emerge out of micro-level elements, none of which possesses the macro-properties. Currently, this systemic concept is confronting the community of macroeconomists in their exploration on how macroeconomic phenomena could and should be rooted in microeconomic agents (Vines & Wills, 2018).

Because the complexity of a system can be objectively identified with value (according to Mr. Stanowski), the introduction of common and differentiating features enables quantitative analysis of relations between elements of a system. Related to Aristotle's claim (Lin, 1999) that "the whole is more than the sum of its parts," Mr. Stanowski provides an explanation for why it is that "the whole" (system) is "more than the sum of its parts." Specifically, the "more" here stands for the emerged new features of the system when the component parts are combined into a whole, even though these parts do not possess the features. For a different while similar explanation of this Aristotle's claim, see Lin and Fan (1997).

Dr. Jeffrey Yi-Lin Forrest, professor of mathematics, economics, finance and systems science; President of the International Institute for General Systems Studies.

References

Lin, Y. (1999). General Systems Theory: A Mathematical Approach. Plenum and Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Lin, Y., Duan, X.J., Zhao, C.L., & Xu, L.D. (2012). Systems Science: Methodological Approaches. CRC Press, ISBN-10: 1439895511, ISBN-13: 978-1439895511.

Lin, Y., & Fan, T.H. (1997). The fundamental structure of general systems and its relation to knowability of the physical world. Kybernetes: The International Journal of Systems and Cybernetics, 26 (3), 275-285.

Vines, D., & Wills, S. (2018). The rebuilding macroeconomic theory project: An analytical assessment. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 34(1-2), 1-42.