Hi, Pamela,
Cf, Clifford Geertz, thin and think description. Geertz described the practice of thick description as a way of providing cultural context and meaning that people place on actions, words, things, etc. Thick descriptions provide enough context so that a person outside the culture can make meaning of the behavior. Thin description by contrast, is stating facts without such meaning or significance. Surveys provide thin descriptions at best. We are suggesting that thick descriptions can be useful to people within an organization in order to better understand themselves and the complexity of organizational life. They can then see their own culture in the subtle ways that cannot be exposed by surveys and sound bites alone. [http://cognitive-edge.com/blog/the-thick-and-thin-of-it/ , for instance]. I really like the highlighted bit. Nick Nicholas S. Thompson Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology Clark University <http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/ From: Friam [mailto:friam-boun...@redfish.com] On Behalf Of Pamela McCorduck Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 3:33 PM To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <friam@redfish.com> Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Physicists and Philosophers Debate the Boundaries of Science | Quanta Magazine I haven't heard the terms "thin problems" and "thick problems." Are these yours, Patrick? They're wonderfully intuitive: if I hadn't heard the terms before, I still knew what you meant. Thanks. As for the techno-liberterians of Silicon Valley, it's useless to remind them that they ride on a grand government investment of half a century ago, that none of them, individually, or collectively, would have made. But on this, I save my breath to cool my soup. Pamela On Dec 28, 2015, at 4:13 PM, Patrick Reilly <patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net <mailto:patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net> > wrote: Well, the main point I have (unless Nick's psychoanalysis of my thinly submitted aggressiveness is the real story) is that I believe that there are thin problems and thick problems, and that solvers of thin problems are overly regarded in Silicon Valley culture. Such captains of industry think that, if they could have coded Twitter, then they know all that they need to to address any discoverable problem after a day or two's investigation. So the referenced article on the dilemma of Physics will be a valuable reference for me in suggesting that some problems are thick problems . . . and require extensive data-gathering. And yes, I am tired of hearing from techno-Libertarians that all political problems and privacy rights issues are easily solvable by merely limiting or hobbling government action. Particularly when IMHO there are currently numerous private corporate entities that need to be better restrained and regulated. --- Pat On Mon, Dec 28, 2015 at 10:35 PM, gepr <geprope...@gmail.com <mailto:geprope...@gmail.com> > wrote: FWIW, I'm very interested in your responses, being an ex-libertarian with both marxist and observationalist friends. On Dec 28, 2015 1:35 PM, "Patrick Reilly" <patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net <mailto:patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net> > wrote: > > I'm mainly worried that my educational session with Nick is boring everyone else. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com -- The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, please send an email to patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net <mailto:patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net> . ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
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