Interrelating Incompatible Viewpoints: dialogue, vision, conference, policy, network, community and lifestyle

Exercise in metaphorical interpretation

Commentary C on an
Book of Changes
also published in Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential, 1994-5, vol 2, pp. 566-569

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1. Dilemma of many possible views

This Encyclopedia seeks to respond to the dilemma of the many possible views concerning the nature of sustainable human development. Usually any such view considers itself more appropriate than other competing views. Few views account for the existence of other views except as being predecessors or misguided. And yet it is the interaction of such views within a conceptual ecology which characterizes the dynamics of human society. Different views engender different styles of human development and give rise to different problems.

It therefore remains an interesting challenge to explore new ways of interrelating the network of views, especially if it is possible to embody in such an exercise features which give the whole a degree of complexity appropriate to the complexity it is intended to encompass. It is also desirable to build in features from other than western cultures.