The Humane Use of Human Ideas

The Humane Use of Human Ideas: The Discoveries Project and Eco-Technology is a 16-chapter book that begins with a discussion on the four international symposia organized by the DISCOVERIES Project. Subsequent chapters describe the model of interdisciplinary research; the birth of programmed society; breaking the chains of traditional systems science; and impacts and characteristics of automation and automated information processing technology. Other chapters explore the impact of automated information processing on society; development of communication; a computational approach to language behavior; and fundamental concepts of eco-technology.

Contenu

1. The Philosophy of "Discoveries": The First Discoveries Symposium
   Beyond the Culture Shock
   The Reinstatement of Spiritual Culture
   A New Viewpoint for Human Activities
   
   2. Future Challenge: The Second Discoveries Symposium
      Science, Culture and Society
      Science and Technology on Trial
      Energy Versus Humankind
      Communication and Information
      Global Planning
      Roma Locuta Est
   3. A Communications Society: The Third Discoveries Symposium
      Introduction
      Communications Society Defined
      The Development of Communication
      Communication, Understanding and Society
      Communication and Socio-economic Phenomena
      Communication Achieved
   4. Automated Information: The Fourth Discoveries Symposium
      Introduction
      Symposium Goals and Organization
      Review of the Opening Session
      Summaries of the Case Study and Session Chairmen
      Concluding Remarks
      Postscript
   5. Evolution and Revolution
   6. A Model of Interdisciplinary Research in Order to Make Prediction
   7. From Exchange to Communication: The Birth of Programed Society
      Introduction
      Levels of Historicity
      Programmed Society in Human Experience
      New Class Relations
      Society Without State, or State Without Society
      Conclusion
   8. Breaking the Chains of Traditional Systems Science
      Four Scientific "Truths"
      "We Shall Overcome"
      Postscript
   9. Individuals and Society
      Introduction
      Analysis of Subjective Evaluations through Fuzzy Set Theory
      Social Structural Model
      Conclusions
   10. Impacts and Characteristics of Automation and Automated Information Processing Technology
       Genealogy of Automation
       Automation and Cybernation
       The Computer as an Automatic Information Processing System
       Characteristics of Computerization in Japan
       Automation and Japanese-Style Industrial Management
   11. The Problem of Appropriate Technology
       An Operational Definition of "Appropriate Technology"
       Conditions for Success of "Appropriate Technology"
       Technology Assessment
       Technology Transfer
       Conclusion
   12. The Impact of Automated Information Processing on Society
       Introduction
       A Short Story
       Automated Information Processing
       The Computer
       The System
       The Technical Impact
       The Social Impact
       The Impact on Developing Countries
       The Philosophical Impact
   13. Development of Communication in the Future Perspective
   14. Do Computers Lead the Way to a New Social System?
   15. Communication and Understanding: A Computational Approach to Language Behavior
       Introduction
       The Mediating Role of Language Behavior
       Computation Modeling of Language Behavior
   16. Fundamental Concepts of Eco-Technology
       Development and Ecology
       Systematic Research
       Philosophical Principles of Eco-technology
       Basic Structure of Eco-technology
       Essential International Cooperation
       Bibliography
       Biographical Notes