Ethical and Aesthetic Explorations of Systemic Practice: New Critical Reflections

Ethical and Aesthetic Explorations of Systemic Practice: New Critical Reflections

Pietro Barbetta & Maria Esther Cavagnis & Inga-Britt Krause

ID: 2648
UUID:
Date added: Nov 9, 2023
Last modified: Sep 20, 2026
File sizes PDF (4.3 MiB)
Languages English
Google Books ISBN
Publisher: Routledge
Published: Jul 14, 2022
URL: https://anu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61ANU_INST/e6uub0/cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9780429793974
Available at: ANU Library
Publication Type: anthology
Theme: Cybernetics
AI Summary: ### **An Exploration of Systemic Practice** **This volume serves as a critical, reflective, and deeply collaborative investigation into how systemic theory can be reinvigorated through the lenses of ethics and aesthetics.** By drawing upon the pioneering, nomadic spirit of Gregory Bateson alongside contemporary thinkers like Deleuze, Guattari, Foucault, and Maturana, the authors challenge the increasingly rigid, "evidence-based" orthodoxies of modern psychotherapy. They advocate for a practice that moves beyond "linguistic games" and social constructionism, choosing instead to remain in the immanent plane of life where theory and practice engage in unpredictable, creative encounters. ### **Key Thematic Pillars** The book is structured around several interconnected conceptual shifts designed to broaden the scope of systemic work: - **From Meaning to Sense**: The authors argue that mainstream clinical practice often reduces the "deliria" of human experience into universal categories that can be treated or repaired. Instead, they propose a focus on "series"—multiplicities of perspective—that respect the singular, often messy reality of a person's life. - **The Clinic as Ecological Aesthetics**: Practice is presented not as a medical intervention, but as a "complex art." The authors encourage therapists to move away from being "expert diagnosticians" to becoming facilitators who admire and respect the beauty of life, even in its most tragic or unusual manifestations. - **Revolutionary Childhood**: A central critique is directed at how traditional psychology treats children as "objects of control." The contributors challenge this asymmetry, viewing children not as beings waiting to become adults, but as revolutionary "becomings" who possess unique powers to transform symptoms into new, imaginative worlds. - **The Collective as Style**: By adopting a collective authorship, the writers model their own theories. They embrace "gaps and distances" between their diverse backgrounds—ranging from anthropology to clinical practice—to illustrate that a "group" does not need to be a closed, uniform entity, but rather a space where overlapping thoughts can coexist and evolve. ### **The Practitioner’s Challenge** Ultimately, the book serves as a call for political and social responsibility. The authors suggest that systemic practice should act as a form of "activism," standing against the sanitization of language and the subtle discrimination often found in institutionalized care. By focusing on "style," "timing," and "nearness," the book provides tools for therapists to move closer to the people they serve, shifting away from hierarchical power dynamics to foster genuine, liberatory encounters. *** **Summary Conclusion** *Ethical and Aesthetic Explorations of Systemic Practice* is an essential resource for those seeking to reconnect with the radical, curious roots of the systemic field. It invites the reader to step outside the familiar frames of modern therapy and participate in a dialogue that values contingency, aesthetic sensibility, and the ethical necessity of honoring the unique, unrepeatable life events of every individual.

Description:

In Ethical and Aesthetic Explorations of Systemic Practice, the four co-authors come together to rhizomatically consider how systemic theories can be reinvigorated in the present day.