Systems and individuals

David Smith wrote:

> One aside to Mr. Gunning and others who want folks on the list to define
> basic terminology (i.e. capitalism).  This list was set up with the idea
> that it would be a place for the discussion of the ideas of world-system
> analysis.  Perhaps some reading of the works of scholars like Immanuel
> Wallerstein, Andre Gunder Frank, Giovanni Arrighi, Chris Chase-Dunn, etc.
> might be a good way to understand some of these concepts.  While I've
> enjoyed some of these discussions, I get the feeling that some of the
> participants only know about the world from what they read on the internet
> and little else...

David, one of the criticisms of "systems analysis" in social science is
that it neglects individual decision makers. Most of my posts stem from
this point of view. I find that many of the posters assume that it is
possible to know the future and to explain past human events without
taking account of the fact that such events are the result of human
actions.

I take a systems point of view in the sense that I try to consider the
entire complex of elements, in their manifold variations, that impinge
on individuals. However, I do not assume that the systems that concern
us most have an independent life -- i.e., that they would survive if
human beings died off or if human beings somehow lost their capacity to
make choices and be inventive. If list members, or the owners of the
list, believe that such ideas do not belong on this list, I shall be
happy to stop posting and to unsubscribe.

P.S. Since I am a new subscriber, I do not know much about the list
history. 

-- 
Pat Gunning, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Web pages on Subjectivism, Democracy, Taiwan, Ludwig von Mises,
Austrian Economics, and my University Classes
http://www2.cybercities.com/g/gunning/welcome.htm
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/barclay/212/welcome.htm