Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2020

Utopics

The Unification of Human Science

  • Offers a new foundation of science in general, from the physical to the human sciences
  • Introduces a new synthesis in science based on Ashby's theory of cybernetic systems
  • Develops a new anthropology that informs the birth of the domain of Utopics

Part of the book series: Contemporary Systems Thinking (CST)

  • 1034 Accesses

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
  2. Introduction

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 1-6
  3. The Fundamental Questions of Philosophy

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 7-18
  4. The “Foundation” of the Human Sciences

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 19-31
  5. The Foundation of Utopics

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 33-67
  6. The Prehistory of Human Science

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 69-109
  7. The History of the Birth of Utopics

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 111-168
  8. The Fundamental Problem of Utopics

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 169-173
  9. The Unification of Knowledge

    • Manel Pretel-Wilson
    Pages 175-180
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 181-308

About this book

The book consolidates systems thinking as a new world-hypothesis that is already suggesting itself behind the advancement of quantum mechanics and Ashby’s cybernetics. In particular, it shows how Einstein’s misgivings about quantum mechanics boil down to his persistence in defending the principle of contiguity at the root of the modern cosmology and, in relation to neo-cybernetics, the book rediscovers Ashby’s theory of adaptive behaviour enabling a new synthesis between physiology, psychology and ethology that has implications for systems practice.

Furthermore, this new “cosmology” comes with a new “anthropology” that informs utopics, the science of utopic systems, and sheds new light on the actual founding fathers of the domain of human science. In particular, the book provides an understanding of how our human world works and how it is being constituted by utopic systems that look into the future to realize something possible. Finally, it points the way to the future unification of knowledge bringing together systems philosophy and systems science given that world-hypothesis is what makes logically possible the development and consolidation of all the different domains of science.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Pretel-Wilson LLC, Calonge, Spain

    Manel Pretel-Wilson

About the author

Manel Pretel-Wilson received his PhD from Hull University Business School (Center for Systems Studies). His research interests are in Philosophy, Science and History and, prior to writing his first book, he has been a senior manager in different sectors in Catalonia (Spain). 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Utopics

  • Book Subtitle: The Unification of Human Science

  • Authors: Manel Pretel-Wilson

  • Series Title: Contemporary Systems Thinking

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54177-4

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-54176-7Published: 07 October 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-54179-8Published: 08 October 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-54177-4Published: 06 October 2020

  • Series ISSN: 1568-2846

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XII, 308

  • Number of Illustrations: 3 b/w illustrations, 5 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Organizational Studies, Economic Sociology, Social Philosophy, Operations Research/Decision Theory

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access