<html>
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
panose-1:2 4 6 2 5 3 5 3 3 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{margin-right:0in;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.Style1, li.Style1, div.Style1
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle18
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
span.EmailStyle19
{font-family:Arial;
color:red;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:595.3pt 841.9pt;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I tried to join this discussion from a
friend’s computer – and apparently I could not get through. But anyhow!
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>My “translation” of Stuart
Kauffman was – “A relatively safe nutrient environment.” I
say “translation” because often Kauffman is hard to pin down. In
fact he never actually lists the essential preconditions for self-organization.
You have to wander through the text and pick them out for yourself. I have done
that on multiple occasions and I think I have it right. My confidence level is
increased by the fact that some of his colleagues who have read my stuff agree.
But what can I say? </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>But in terms of my statement -- (“A
relatively safe nutrient environment.”), it is not really about food as
such. Maybe “supportive” would have been more accurate. But my
point is that you have to have the necessary stuff available before anything
useful could happen. In the case of an Open Space you need the requisite number
of people who care, and whose “caring” is informed by some degree
of knowledge. In short they have to know more or less what they are talking
about. But the real issue is “relative safety.” Some people have
talked about the sort of space created in an Open Space as “safe space”
– a space where ideas, hopes and dreams may be shared even if they are
unpopular, not phrased in the most felicitous fashion, or just clumsy. But the
space can’t be “too safe” or there will be no sense of
expectation and urgency. A sense of risk does seem to sharpen the mind and enhance
the quality of conversation. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Potomac,
Maryland 20854</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Phone </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Skype hhowen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Training</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></font></a>
</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Institute</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.org</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Personal website</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.ho-image.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.ho-image.com</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>: To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: </span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></font></a></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Martin Boroson<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, January 20, 2008
11:24 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Philosophical Question</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Dear all:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>I have a couple
of philosophical questions about the concept of a “stable nutrient
environment.” According to Stuart Kauffman, as quoted by Harrison,
this is Condition #1 for self-organization.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>My questions:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>a. What
does this mean scientifically? Presumably Kauffman is talking primarily
about biological systems, as he is a biologist. Does he mean sufficient
food supply? That would make sense – you need sufficient food in
order to do anything -- but on the other hand, fundamental environmental
challenges to a system (such as lack of food supply) are surely one of the
perturbations that can induce a re-organization. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>b.
I’m also curious to know how each of you would interpret “stable
nutrient environment” in terms of organizational change. What would
be the “stable nutrient environment” required? Abundant
coffee and cake at your conference? Lifetime job security for all the
organization’s employees? Or something in between?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'><br>
;)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Namaste </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Marty</span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist