Principle of Synergetic Advantage

Comprehensive Anticipatory Design ScienceComprehensive Anticipatory Design Science

Design ScienceDesign Science

Finding ways to organize ourmatter-energy environment tobetter support life…

…By employing generalizedprinciples …

…To transform human life supportsystems in ways that…

…Support all humans and otherliving beings using less materialresources…

…and without underminingEarth’s ecological processes

Ocean Arks International’s

Living Machines.

Whole Systems ThinkingWhole Systems Thinking

Problem solving begins by first considering

Whole Systems

Proceed to examine the parts in relationship to

the whole system (macro-to-micro)

Analysis, the basis for most present day

planning and policy-making, separates out

parts from the whole for study

Analysis does not acknowledge the concept of

synergy

SynergySynergy

The behavior of whole systemsunpredicted by the behavior of theirparts taken separately

Synergy describes the “laws of wholesystems”

Sometimes referred to as “The Scienceof Cooperation”

Principle of Synergetic AdvantagePrinciple of Synergetic Advantage

Definition: “The principle of synergeticadvantage states that macro-to-micro does notequal micro-to-macro. Synergetic advantage isonly to be effected by macro-to-microprocedure. Synergetic advantage proceduresare irreversible. Micro-to-macro procedures areinherently frustrated.”

Buckminster Fuller Synergetics

Principle of SynergeticPrinciple of SynergeticAdvantageAdvantage

There is nothing in chemicalcompounds per se that predictsbiological protoplasm.

There is nothing in the biologicalprotoplasm per se that predictscamels and palm trees and theintercomplementary interexchangeof the waste gases given off by them

There is nothing in the exchange ofthese gases that predicts galaxiesand stars

Design Science Planning Process

Whole Systems Coordinate SystemWhole Systems Coordinate System

Whole Systems Framework

x

y

zCartesian Framework

SystemsSystems

““A system is the first subdivision ofA system is the first subdivision of

Universe into a conceivable entityUniverse into a conceivable entity

separating all that is nonsimultaneouslyseparating all that is nonsimultaneously

and geometrically outside the system,and geometrically outside the system,

ergo irrelevant, from all that isergo irrelevant, from all that is

nonsimultaneously and geometricallynonsimultaneously and geometrically

inside and irrelevant to the systeminside and irrelevant to the system””

Buckminster Fuller. Buckminster Fuller. SynergeticsSynergetics

PolyhedraPolyhedra

All systems are polyhedra

Polyhedra represent theinventory of Nature’sstructural/energypatterning options

Defined by WholeSystems Framework

Polle

n

Hive

Polyhedral DesignPolyhedral Design

Volvox- freshwater

colonial protozoanGeodesic Dome design

by Paul Sun

Polyhedral DesignPolyhedral Design

BuckminsterfullerenesBuckminsterfullerenes

NatureNature’’s Tensegrity Design Strategys Tensegrity Design Strategy

Scientific American

January 1998

PrecessionPrecession

Precession is the effect ofany moving system uponany other moving system

Precessional effects arealways angular andalways something otherthan 180 degrees; theyare very likely to be 90degrees or 60 degrees

Pollination is aprecessionalphenomenon

It is aninadvertent,unconscious90-degree “by-product” ofthe honeybee’sinstinctualurge to collecthoney

PrecessionPrecession

TensegrityTensegrity

Tensional Integrity

Structures emphasizetension and de-emphasizecompression

A Tensegrity system is a setof discontinuouscompressive componentsinteracting with a set ofcontinuous tensilecomponents to define astable volume in space

EphemeralizationEphemeralization

In a finite worldwith limitedresources…

…the key tosustainability…

…isunderstandinghow to do MOREWITH LESS

Technology As Pure PrincipleTechnology As Pure Principle

General Principal

Leverage

A:B = NL:NK

Special Case(Applications)