How to make systems thinking become main stream in society?

Presentation at the International Society for the Systems Sciences 2010 Conference, 19-23 July 2010, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.This paper investigates the existence of systems concepts and ideas in different cultures and civilisations throughout history. The similarities and differences between these concepts in western and eastern philosophies will be discussed. The paper examines ancient civilisations, Chinese Traditional Medicine, Yin and Yang, the five key elements of the Universe (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth), as well as indigenous cultures such as Maori (Earth Mother and Sky Father) and views and practices of Aboriginal people in Australia. The development and application of systems concepts and holistic thinking in various disciplines are reviewed. The paper links these perspectives to the state of the art of systems thinking and suggests ways in which the history of systems thinking can help its future development as an ‘every day language’ and main stream concept embedded in society.Nam Nguyen, Kambiz Maani, Ockie Boschhttp://journals.isss.org/index.php/proceedings54th/article/view/151