A fictionalized depiction of the ecological and holistic teachings of the philosopher fritjof capra filmed by his brother bernt, mindwalk consists almost entirely of the verbal interplay between. Boy, shes really showing those stogdy old patriarchal cartesians whats what. My phd was about the ability to identify and make use of multiple perspectives on a system when understanding peoples needs, and designing new information systems to meet them. The turning point, drawing on diverse disciplines but written in a very accessible style, begins by considering the scale and urgency of social, ecological and economic crises faced by the world. A multidisciplinary textbook for undergraduate students, coauthored with pier luigi luisi. The movie mindwalk, based on the work of fritjof capra. This movie captures, in a breathtakingly beautiful and dynamic setting, one of the best dialogues in the history of thought. Its a little newagey, but you kinda have to be to talk about physics, metaphysics and the meaning of life all at once. Senges book is the most popular, but donella meadows book has better ratings both on amazon and on goodreads, which is why her book won. Mindwalk is a 1990 feature film directed by bernt amadeus capra, based on his own short story, based in turn on the book the turning point by his brother fritjof capra, the author of the book the tao of physics.
The book has been published in 2 editions in 2 languages. The actors are laughable, and the physicists accent changes with each new scene. The basic tenet of capras belief system is holistic thinking. This video talks in big sweeping strokes about big things, its a great starting point for deeper thinking.
Mindwalk 1991 jack edwards sam waterston is a disillusioned former presidential candidate who escapes to france to see his friend thomas harriman john heard, an expatriate poet. The movie introduces systems theory and systems thinking, along with insights into modern physical theories such as. Note that there is not a focus on eliminating failures. While these are very diverse challenges, the underlying dynamics are the same. One concept it made me appreciate is the systems theory. Political and social problems, and alternative solutions for them, are another major focus of the film. In bernt capras mindwalk, opening today at the film forum, an alienated scientist liv ullmann, a losing candidate for the united states presidency sam. Based on the book the turning point by fritjof capra the tao of physics, the film is a 90minute conversation between a scientist, a politician, and a poet. If we are to address todays mounting crises, we must learn to see through the evidencebased lens of relationships. This theory would help us get a much firmer grasp onthe sciences that deal with life. It is an approach in which the goal is the synthesis of a whole product solution as opposed to a focus on a system decomposed into solution components. The systems view of life is a work to savor, to absorb. His most notable works include the tao of physics 1975, the turning point 1982, screenwriter for the movie mindwalk. In this case, the principal subject is holistic vs.
I have invited friends to watch it, and some have been bored to tears. If these seem like daunting subjects, its true that the book is an intelligent read, but its also life affirming, enjoyable, illuminating, and. They think this is the movies, but this room is absolutely contemporary. This book extends some of the ideas of systems dynamics to talk about why systems change and why collapse occurs. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Contains the complete screenplay of bernt capras film, cowritten by floyd byars and fritjof capra, together with introductory comments by the films director and a scientific commentary by fritjof capra. Systems thinking contains a variety of different strands, which includes cybernetics, general systems theory, system dynamics, soft and critical systems, complexity theory and learning systems. Why cant jacks approach serve as a solution to this crisis of perception.
The systems view of life is just what ive been waiting for. Aug, 2008 but were here to talk about a movie, not to trash a book. Where other techniques focus on breaking down a problem into smaller constituent parts. The movie dialog focuses on how our civilization is out of joint because of our restrictive mind set. What does mindwalk mean definition of mindwalk word finder. Pop culture graphics mindwalk poster movie 27x40 liv ullmann sam waterston john heard. This different paradigm modern systems theory views a complex system as much more than the mere sum of its component parts. Emerys edited book systems thinking is a great collection of the classics. Perhaps that gave me a different perspective on the movie. Systems without failures, although robust, become brittle and fragile. Thinking in systems is nothing new, in the context of business, systems thinking as a concept was introduced by professor jay w. Made two years ago, mindwalk is finally arriving in chicago at facets multimedia for a week, after having been announced and then withdrawn as an attraction at the fine arts many months ago. Furthermore, the transitions to each scene are as smooth as.
The basic tenet of capras belief system is holistic thinking recognizing the interconnectedness of the universe as opposed to mechanistic thinking deconstructing the universe into pieces. Based on the book the turning point by fritjof capra. Dec 15, 2010 this organic approach to systems theory and the interconnectedness of all living things is the subject of the film mindwalk by bernt capra. Popular systems thinking books goodreads share book. The book was a door opener for many people while it was first regarded as a somewhat too daring perspective put in the world by a scientist. Fellows will be able to identify ways systems thinking habits and tools can.
Shifty mindwalk was a terrible movie, in my opinion. However, i havent even read the book it was based on and i can say that the book must have been better. Mindwalk is a 1990 feature film directed by bernt amadeus capra, based on his own short story, based in turn on the book the turning point by his brother fritjof capra, the author of the book the tao of physics the majority of the movie is a conversation among three characters. The fast action, sex, blood, money crazed movies that we all love. Rather than creating a conversation about philosophical ideas, mindwalk presents a philosophical lecture with liv ullman as its lecturer and sam waterston as the eager, notescribbling student. For me though, the most powerful thing is the moment when your brain just starts to see systems. The film was directed by austiranborn bernt capra, a hollywood production designer.
The purpose of this movie wasnt, and with good reason, to be glamorous though. The three spend the day wandering about the island and talking about descartes and the accountability of science for what it wreaks, politics, systems theory, turning points, the bomb, and many other philosophical questions. Sep 10, 2015 mindwalk 1990, written and directed by bernt amadeus capra, is based on his brother fritjof capras philosophy, specifically his 1982 book the turning point. Fritjof, a physicist best known for the book the tao of physics, advocates systems thinking, the idea that everything is connected. The movie portrays a wideranging conversation among three characters.
The fact that mindwalk was based on a book also gives some explanation to the choppy scenes, as many omissions were probably made. The text also interweaves the meanings of complexity, paradox, and system to promote the improvement of difficult situations. This 10 minute excerpt from the acclaimed movie, mindwalk, based on fritjof capras book the turning point, beautifully captures and explains the two world views, and their consequences. It is worthwhile to have a closer look at some biographical details which will help to better understand his stand in life, and his mission. Mindwalk is a 1990 feature film directed by bernt amadeus capra, based on his own short story, based in turn on the book the. The basic tenet of capras belief system is holistic thinking recognizing the interconnectedness of the universe as opposed to mechanistic thinking deconstructing the. Mindwalk makes explores the suggestion that a different paradigm is needed to supplement the cartesian paradigm. Mindwalk, like my dinner with andre, is a dialoguedriven film, which explores basic philosophical questions. There are a number of books on systems in the market.
Most scientists would not opt out of the system as sonia did. Stephanie moore, bernt amadeus capra, floyd byars, fritjof capra. Introduction to systems thinking for early childhood leaders ceelo leadership academy washington d. Mindwalk 1990, written and directed by bernt amadeus capra, is based on his brother fritjof capras philosophy, specifically his 1982 book the turning point. Mindwalk is a 1990 feature film directed by bernt amadeus capra, adapted from his short story based on the turning point, a nonfiction book by his brother fritjof capra, who also authored the tao of physics. But were here to talk about a movie, not to trash a book. A fictionalized depiction of the ecological and holistic teachings of the philosopher fritjof capra filmed by his brother bernt, mindwalk consists almost entirely of the verbal. When failures occur, it is more likely that the teams responding will be unprepared, and this could dramatically increase the impact of the incident. The authors present a coherent systemic framework that integrates the biological, cognitive, social, and ecological dimensions of life. To be able to understand and grasp the meaning of the film, you first had to make sure that your brain was in full gear. The book is expensive to buy from major online retailers, but abe books has plenty of used copies. It is based on ideas from fritjof capras book entitled the turning point. Mindwalk is a hollywood movie which praises systems theory, claims that the contemporary scientific world view is changing and advocates a similar change in thinking by public officials. The most important book totv adaptations coming in 2020.
Systems thinking interdependent relationships youtube. Fritjof capra born february 1, 1939 is an austrianborn american physicist, systems theorist and deep ecologist. Similarly, the practical dilemmas presented by determinism have not silenced the system. Actually, sonia does most of the talking, while thomas usually nods sympathetically and jack poses an occasional doubtful question. Unlocking the power of systems thinking disruptive. I want to tell you the ocean knows this, that life in its jewel boxes is endless as the sand, impossible to count, pure, and among the bloodcolored grapes time has made the petal hard and shiny, made the jellyfish full of light and untied its knot, letting its musical threads fall. Jacks opposition is a defense of pragmatic thinking, of understanding ones limitations and persisting on the few solutions that can be won. Introduction to systems thinking for early childhood. Mindwalk is a 1990 feature film directed by bernt amadeus capra, adapted from his short story based on the turning point, a nonfiction book by his brother fritjof capra, who also authored the tao of. Based on the book the turning point by fritjof capra the tao of physics, the film is a 90minute. It communicates in relatively simple terms some of the most important and expansive issues of today, but it does not spoonfeed the viewer. This organic approach to systems theory and the interconnectedness of all living things is the subject of the film mindwalk by bernt capra.
Jan 08, 2018 i mentioned michael jacksons book, systems thinking. In 1995, he became a founding director of the center for ecoliteracy in berkeley, california. The movie serves as an introduction to systems theory and systems thinking, while insights into modern physical. Movie based on ideas from fritjof capras book entitled the turning point. I thought that it was a cheap effort at making a movie dedicated to philosophy. Yet even a scant years later in 2004, what the bleep was made and the public embraced it. From the very beginning, i realized that mindwalk was definitely not a film you could kick back, turn your brain off, and just enjoy. I thought it was funny how this came out in 1991 when so few were ready for the topic of quantum field theory. This is one of the best movies ever madewhich sounds hokey, but tis true. Earlier this week, i came across the movie mindwalk on showtime. Ive heard it discussed over the years, with one common complaint.
Though i will not generally make an exception on the screen format and dont think i ever have before, mindwalk is too good and. Mindwalks tagline is a film for passionate thinkers, but how on earth is a thinking person supposed to respond to jack and thomas genuflection before sonias pronouncements. I became a systems thinker, although i didnt encounter the term until later. Id like to combine my notes into a book and call itecological thinking, as opposed to cartesian thinking. What are the best books that you propose for understanding. Its a surprisingly good overview of the main strands of systems thinking over the past half century or so. Learn to think like a mountain introduced the need and value of systems thinking. The film stars liv ullmann, sam waterston, and john heard. The movie itself lulls you into a kind of drooling tranceboth because of the incredible ideas and history being related by the characters but also the scenery and the little bit of music present. Mar 19, 20 her ultimate plan is to collect her thoughts on systems theory in a book to be titled ecological thinking, but it is unclear as to whether this will come to fruition. In a systems view, we see there are no parts, only participants. Mindwalk pg by desson howe washington post staff writer november 15, 1991 three people sitting around yakking is not exactly gripping movie fare.
However, the surprise isnt so much that the movie is turning up here late as that its turning up at all. Filmed entirely at mont saint michel, france, mindwalk serves as an introduction to systems theory and systems thinking. Dont let the for managers in the title put you off. The first one that i will recommend is authored by me and was published earlier this year. A systems thinker would look at a tree and see the seasonal exchange between tree and earth, earth and sky. Use of systems thinking to explore competing perspectives, transdisciplinary synthesis, and modeling of global dynamics. The fact that mindwalk was based on a book also gives. My last few posts focused on systems thinking as a necessary means of understanding complex, realworld problems. It points to our overly scientific influenced culture and how we use too much analytic thinking. Jan 11, 2015 systems theory talks about the weakness and innaccuracy of this sort of thinking. It was directed by bernt capra and is based on fritjof capras book the turning point. Would see the annual cycle, which really is one big breath the earth takes through its. Mindwalk is based on the book, the turning point by fritjof capra who also. Featuring a holistic, nonlinear way of looking at systems, this book helps readers better organize and structure their thinking of systems in order to solve complex, realworld problems.
The power of systems thinking from our free superpower activation kit. Mindwalk if a good movie is one that makes you think, mindwalk must be superb. All living organisms as well as social systems and ecosystems. Systems thinking is fundamentally different from other analysis and solution construction techniques. Systems thinking is the most important as it underlies and links all the other disciplines. Improve your logic, think more critically, and use proven systems to solve your problems. We call it systems theory, the theory of living systems. Mindwalk, like my dinner with andre, is a dialoguedriven film, which. Mindwalk is based on the book, the turning point by fritjof capra who also cowrote the films screenplay with floyd byars. I also read the book that it is based upon before i saw that movie the turning point. What are the best books that you propose for understanding and perception of system thinking. For me this movie doesnt seem like something that it is to be analyzed to death or watched repeatedly, you lose the nature of the mindwalk, the transience and flow.
468 852 1164 809 950 250 384 1031 326 1339 108 1377 1110 1338 548 915 500 1311 179 1400 735 89 964 1162 371 1009 176 1313 1435 552 1149 419 906 309 583