• Research Paper on:
    More Than a Living by Lieber and Systems Theory

    Number of Pages: 5

     

    Summary of the research paper:

    In five pages this paper considers systems theory in an examination of Talcott Parsons' theory and by evaluating More Than a Living Fishing and the Social Order on a Polynesian Atoll by Lieber. Three sources are cited in the bibliography.

    Name of Research Paper File: RT13_SA207MTL.rtf

    Buy This Research Paper »

     

    Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
    The book looks at the Kapingamarangi atoll for example and fishing which is integral to daily life there. With the help of Kenneth Berrien, and systems theory,  the author delves into the community with the use of the charts to illustrate life in the village. A variety of charts are presented in order to illustrate systems.  In looking at figures 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 from the book, a student interpreting the data will of course want to compare and contrast the charts. Which one comes closest  to what Barrien would consider a whole system representation? It appears that figure 9.2 is most representative of a whole system. In looking at the chart labeled "Figure 9.2 :  Ritual Knowledge as distribution and integration in organization fishing activity," one sees an intricate network of events that helps to order the environment. In the chart, a variety of things  are illustrated and it of course begins with the knowledge of the gods and ritual formulae distribution. This is further subdivided by class and age and interestingly, under the age  category there is little which occurs prior to reaching the canoe and corporate owners subdivision, unlike the breakdown by class which tends to divide earlier on. The priestly class is  separated from the secular class for example. In the end, the subdivision demonstrates a number of inputs and outputs until the conclusion is reached and patterns and currents are discerned.  Why is this figure more complete than the other two? There are multiple sub-units and the figure does a good job of illustrating what is occurring in the scope of  the targeted system. It clearly presents an analysis of what is occurring and there is a sense of wholeness. Boundaries are clearly defined and it seems that there are few 

    Back to Research Paper Results