The Turning PointThe Turning Point

Science, Society, and the Science, Society, and the Rising CultureRising Culture

By Fritjof CapraBy Fritjof Capra19821982

Crisis: danger/opportunityCrisis: danger/opportunity

Cultural transformation follows a Cultural transformation follows a pattern of rise and fall.pattern of rise and fall.– Transition 1: Decline of patriarchyTransition 1: Decline of patriarchy

A shift in valuesA shift in values

– Transition 2: Decline of the fossil fuel ageTransition 2: Decline of the fossil fuel ageA shift in technology A shift in technology

– Transition 3: Paradigm ShiftTransition 3: Paradigm ShiftA shift in world views A shift in world views

“For the very first time we have to face the very real threat of extinction of the human race and of all life on this planet.” Capra, pg. 21

Cultural Values and AttitudesCultural Values and Attitudes

Yin (feminine)Yin (feminine)–ContractiveContractive–ConservativeConservative–ResponsiveResponsive–CooperativeCooperative–IntuitiveIntuitive–SynthesizingSynthesizing

◊Yang (masculine)−Expansive−Demanding−Aggressive −Competitive−Rational −Analytic

Cultural ImbalanceCultural Imbalance

“ “ Looking at this list of opposites (yin/yang), it is easy to see Looking at this list of opposites (yin/yang), it is easy to see that our society has consistently favored the yang over the that our society has consistently favored the yang over the yin…” Capra, pg. 39yin…” Capra, pg. 39

Rational knowledge over intuitive Rational knowledge over intuitive wisdomwisdom

Competition over cooperationCompetition over cooperation Exploitation of natural resources over Exploitation of natural resources over

conservationconservation

Fluctuation of Value SystemsFluctuation of Value Systems

Sensate: matter alone is the ultimate Sensate: matter alone is the ultimate realityreality

Ideational: true reality lies in the spiritual Ideational: true reality lies in the spiritual realmrealm

Idealistic: synthesizing stageIdealistic: synthesizing stage– Greek culture of the 5Greek culture of the 5thth and 6 and 6thth century century– European RenaissanceEuropean Renaissance

“In Sorokin’s model the current paradigm shift and the decline of the Industrial Age are another period of maturation and decline of sensate culture.” (Pitirim Sorokin, 1937-1941), Capra, pg. 31

Delphi, 2500 bpDelphi, 2500 bp

“The Greeks were essentially democratic…Normally, the citizens shared in all affairs of state …were united by a similar devotion of their religion, …festivals…love of music, the drama and the fine arts and by …sports.”

Temple of Apollo, Theatre, Treasuries, Stoas Fletcher, Banister. (1967). A History of Architeccture on the Comparative Method. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

The Louvre, 1852The Louvre, 1852

Architect Visconti presents plans for additions to the Louvre to Napoleon III. Pierre Lescot , 1510 -1571 is Architect of the Louvre.

Ericsson Corporate Plano,TXEricsson Corporate Plano,TX

Gideon Toal ArchitectsGreg Ibanez, AIA

Social Trends, 1988Social Trends, 1988

The Assumption of ResponsibilityThe Assumption of Responsibility The Renewal of IdealismThe Renewal of Idealism

Vision 2000: Trends Shaping Architecture’s Future

Values and LifestylesValues and Lifestyles

Outer-Directed “Achievers”Outer-Directed “Achievers”

YuppiesYuppies Inner-Directed “Societally Conscious”Inner-Directed “Societally Conscious”

HippiesHippies X Generation “nothing matters”X Generation “nothing matters” Integrateds “the ability to transcend”Integrateds “the ability to transcend”

a new synthesis (25–29% in 1988)a new synthesis (25–29% in 1988) Flatlanders, the new integrateds (you)Flatlanders, the new integrateds (you)

The Dark Side of GrowthThe Dark Side of Growth

Toxic Chemical WastesToxic Chemical Wastes Exorbitant use of PetroleumExorbitant use of Petroleum Growth of Nuclear PowerGrowth of Nuclear Power Unhealthy DietUnhealthy Diet Reliance on DrugsReliance on Drugs

“The fragmented, mechanistic world view that has become All-pervasive, and the one-sided, sensate and ‘yang-oriented’ Value system that is the basis of this world view, have led to a profound cultural imbalance and have generated numeroussymptoms of ill health.” Capra, pg. 234

Sprawl Sprawl http://www.sprawlcity.org/hbis/index.htmlhttp://www.sprawlcity.org/hbis/index.html

Amy Singer, artist

“Over a 20-year period, the 100 largest Urbanized Areas sprawled out over an additional 14,545 square miles. That was more than 9 million acres of natural habitats, farmland and other rural space that were covered over by the asphalt, buildings and sub-divisions of suburbia. “

The Era of RebuildingThe Era of Rebuilding

2020thth Century was an Century was an Era of BuildingEra of Building

2121stst Centruy Centruy – Long term growth in Long term growth in

rehabilitationrehabilitation– Lack of prime new Lack of prime new

urban sitesurban sites– Historic Historic

PreservationPreservation– Tax lawsTax laws

Driskill HotelAustin, Texas

Vision 2000: Trends Shaping Architecture’s Future

Penturbia Penturbia (Lessinger, Univ. of Washington)(Lessinger, Univ. of Washington)

Older Colonies to New ColoniesOlder Colonies to New Colonies Migration WestMigration West To the Industrial CitiesTo the Industrial Cities SuburbanizationSuburbanization Areas offering a “High Quality of Life”Areas offering a “High Quality of Life”

– From fragmentationFrom fragmentation– To intergrationTo intergration

Dallas StructureDallas Structure

1850River

1900Rail

1970Highway

Dallas Structure 21Dallas Structure 21stst Century Century

Urban VillageUrban Village

Frank Elmer Associates Ltd., Columbus, Ohio

A new town center for Channahon, Illinois.

Downtown Plano Transit VillageDowntown Plano Transit Village

2003-2004 CLIDE AWARDRedevelopment Landmark Award

Center for Development Excellence

Technological TrendsTechnological Trends

The Energy TransitionThe Energy Transition Biotechnology and Ecological DesignBiotechnology and Ecological Design

Village Homes, Davis, CA 1981 Michael and Judy Corbett

Vision 2000: Trends Shaping Architecture’s Future

Economic TrendsEconomic Trends

Globalization of the EconomyGlobalization of the Economy

Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz has done work on every continent except Antarctica. There is greater opportunity for and interest in high-level design overseas. Companies such as Charles Schwab call upon KMD to design their overseas offices.

Vision 2000: Trends Shaping Architecture’s Future

USA: Adapt or DeclineUSA: Adapt or Decline

““We have to make it work for We have to make it work for everyone to make it work for everyone to make it work for ourselves” Buckminster Fullerourselves” Buckminster Fuller

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), pact that calls for the gradual removal of tariffs and other trade barriers on most goods produced and sold in North America. NAFTA became effective in Canada, Mexico, and the United States on January 1, 1994. NAFTA forms the world's second largest free-trade zone, bringing together 365 million consumers in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in an open market. The largest free-trade zone is the European Economic Area which also became effective in 1994.

Worldview: machine/organismWorldview: machine/organism

Mechanistic viewMechanistic view– Decartes – Cartesian view of natureDecartes – Cartesian view of nature– Rational, analytic thinkingRational, analytic thinking– Fundamental building blocks Fundamental building blocks (separate parts)(separate parts)– Anti-ecologicalAnti-ecological

System Theory (living organism)System Theory (living organism)– Looks at the world in terms of the interrelatedness and Looks at the world in terms of the interrelatedness and

interdependence of all phenomenainterdependence of all phenomena– An integrated whole whose properties cannot be reduced to those An integrated whole whose properties cannot be reduced to those

of its parts. of its parts.

“Retreating into our minds, we have forgotten how to ‘think’ with ourbodies, how to use them as agents of knowing. In doing so we have also cut ourselves off from our natural environment and have forgotten how to commune and cooperate with its rich variety of living organisms.” Capra, pg. 40

Machines/OrganismMachines/Organism MachinesMachines

– ConstructedConstructed– ProductProduct– RigidRigid– Linear patternsLinear patterns– StaticStatic

•OrganismsOrganisms•GrownGrown•ProcessProcess•FlexibleFlexible•Cyclical patternsCyclical patterns•Self organizingSelf organizing

•Self renewalSelf renewal•Self-Self-transcendencetranscendence

…it is the interactions between the parts of a system that give rise to its emergent properties.

Hierarchical OrganizationHierarchical Organization

Collaboration NetworkCollaboration Network

The Systems View of LifeThe Systems View of Life

Basic principles of organizationBasic principles of organization– CellsCells– OrgansOrgans– OrganismsOrganisms– Social systems (ant hill, family)Social systems (ant hill, family)– Ecosystems (organisms and inanimate matter Ecosystems (organisms and inanimate matter

in mutual interaction)in mutual interaction)

“The new vision of reality we have been talking about is based on the awareness of the essential interrelatedness and interdependence of all phenomena _ physical, biological, psychological, social and cultural. It transcend current disciplinary and conceptual boundaries and will be pursed within new institutions.” Capra, pg. 265

Systems Thinking is Process Systems Thinking is Process ThinkingThinking

Form becomes associated with Form becomes associated with processprocess

Interrelation with interactionInterrelation with interaction Opposites are unified through Opposites are unified through

oscillationoscillation

Reduction and Holism, analysis and synthesis, are Reduction and Holism, analysis and synthesis, are complementary approaches that, used in proper complementary approaches that, used in proper balance, help us obtain a deeper knowledge of balance, help us obtain a deeper knowledge of life. life.

The Planet as a Living OrganismThe Planet as a Living Organism

Gaia hypothesis Gaia hypothesis (Greek goddess of (Greek goddess of the earth)the earth)

“Mind is the essence of being alive.” Gregory Bateson

Mind as a pattern of self-organization.

RhythmRhythm

Atoms are patterns of probability Atoms are patterns of probability waveswaves

Molecules are vibrating structuresMolecules are vibrating structures Organisms are multidimensional, Organisms are multidimensional,

interdependent patterns of interdependent patterns of fluctuations. fluctuations.

“The conceptual shift from structure to rhythm may be extremely useful in our attempts to find a unifying description of nature. Rhythmic patterns seem to be manifest at all levels” Capra, pg. 300

Synchrony with the UniverseSynchrony with the Universe“These moments of perfect rhythm, when everything feels exactly right and things are done with great ease, are high spiritual experiences in which every form of separateness or fragmentation is transcended.” Capra, pg. 302

Photo: Jerry Kneupper

Kimble Art MuseumFort Worth, TexasLouis Kahn, Architect

Mindwalk: Mindwalk: a film for passionate thinkersa film for passionate thinkers

Liv UllmannLiv Ullmann Sam WaterstonSam Waterston John HeardJohn Heard

Mont Saint Michel13th CenturyRestored byViollet-le-Duc19th CenturyFrench Romanesque-Gothic