Consensus/Dissensus: A Relational Alternative to the Metaphor of Power

Douglas G. Flemons

doi:10.1521/jsst.1989.8.2-3.58

Consensus/Dissensus: A Relational Alternative to the Metaphor of Power

Douglas G. Flemons

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The legitimacy of the notion of "power," originally debated by Gregory Bateson and Jay Haley, continues to be a point of contention among family therapy theorists and clinicians. This paper discusses power as an artifact of Newtonian science and examines some of the serious problems that can arise when such a metaphor is used as an explanatory device for human interaction. The ideas of "consensus" and "dissensus" are developed as alternative pattern-oriented notions which are more in keeping with the cybernetic epistemology proposed by Bateson.

Original language	American English
Journal	Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1521/jsst.1989.8.2-3.58
State	Published - Jan 1 1989

Keywords

consensus
dissensus
power

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Access to Document

10.1521/jsst.1989.8.2-3.58License: Unspecified

Consensus Dissensus A Relational Alternative to the Metaphor ofFinal published version, 15.9 MBLicense: Unspecified

Cite this

@article{8c3c99085d1e4c96a0594c2cc5ec68eb,

title = "Consensus/Dissensus: A Relational Alternative to the Metaphor of Power",

abstract = " The legitimacy of the notion of {"}power,{"} originally debated by Gregory Bateson and Jay Haley, continues to be a point of contention among family therapy theorists and clinicians. This paper discusses power as an artifact of Newtonian science and examines some of the serious problems that can arise when such a metaphor is used as an explanatory device for human interaction. The ideas of {"}consensus{"} and {"}dissensus{"} are developed as alternative pattern-oriented notions which are more in keeping with the cybernetic epistemology proposed by Bateson.",

keywords = "consensus, dissensus, power",

author = "Flemons, \{Douglas G.\}",

year = "1989",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1521/jsst.1989.8.2-3.58",

language = "American English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies",

issn = "0711-5075",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Consensus/Dissensus: A Relational Alternative to the Metaphor of Power

AU - Flemons, Douglas G.

PY - 1989/1/1

Y1 - 1989/1/1

N2 - The legitimacy of the notion of "power," originally debated by Gregory Bateson and Jay Haley, continues to be a point of contention among family therapy theorists and clinicians. This paper discusses power as an artifact of Newtonian science and examines some of the serious problems that can arise when such a metaphor is used as an explanatory device for human interaction. The ideas of "consensus" and "dissensus" are developed as alternative pattern-oriented notions which are more in keeping with the cybernetic epistemology proposed by Bateson.

AB - The legitimacy of the notion of "power," originally debated by Gregory Bateson and Jay Haley, continues to be a point of contention among family therapy theorists and clinicians. This paper discusses power as an artifact of Newtonian science and examines some of the serious problems that can arise when such a metaphor is used as an explanatory device for human interaction. The ideas of "consensus" and "dissensus" are developed as alternative pattern-oriented notions which are more in keeping with the cybernetic epistemology proposed by Bateson.

KW - consensus

KW - dissensus

KW - power

UR - https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_facarticles/15

U2 - 10.1521/jsst.1989.8.2-3.58

DO - 10.1521/jsst.1989.8.2-3.58

M3 - Article

SN - 0711-5075

VL - 8

JO - Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies

JF - Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies

ER -

Consensus/Dissensus: A Relational Alternative to the Metaphor of Power

Abstract

Keywords

Disciplines

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this