On suicidal rabbits: A relativity of systems

Abstract

This festschrift paper, written in honour of Russell Ackoff, hinges on three of his characteristic approaches: the use of fables, his acceptance of “messes” as distinct from well-formulated problems, and his concept of idealized planning. Current thoughts of the author, dealing respectively with recursive logic, the implementation of change, and the theory of democratic organization, are attached to these hinges and among them, express his own theme as to a relativity of systems.