Please note that the breakthrough dialectical metasystemic advanced analysis and problem-solving methodology (DMAP) is also known by its originator, Otto Laske, as the dialectical thought form system (DTF).
DMAP History
The history of DMAP (advanced dialectical metasystemic analysis and problem solving) begins with Otto Laske's publication of the first book describing the 28 dialectical perspectives. These 28 dialectical perspectives, called dialectical thought forms (DTF by Laske), are the heart and soul of the advanced analysis and problem-solving capabilities of dialectical metasystemic analysis or thinking. The following review of Laske's first DMAP book provides some history of where this advanced analysis and problem-solving breakthrough has occurred in the development of thinking and cognitive systems. It also contains other insights into the potential applications of this methodology.
The following was based upon reviewing Otto Laske's first book on dialectical metasystemic thinking, which has been replaced by the three new versions of this earlier book published by Springer Publishing and described here. Even though this original book review describes Otto Laske's two earlier books on dialectical analysis and thinking, it is just as applicable to his three new books.
This earlier book review describes the proper place in the history of thinking of Laske's DTF and DMAP analysis, problem-solving, and thinking methodology. This early article also details the significant challenges of learning this new methodology.
About the place in history for Laske's advancements in dialectical metasystemic analysis and problem-solving
During the Enlightenment, in the 1600s, there was a major breakthrough in thinking; rational, logical thought and its accompanying scientific falsification methodology came into being. This allowed for a new way of conceptualizing and managing the world. Even now, 400 years later, we reap the bountiful benefits of that great breakthrough in a new way of thinking.
Today, we are also on the brink of what might be considered an even greater Second Enlightenment. It is being aided in significant part by an advanced new dialectical meta-systemic analysis and problem-solving process (DMAP) that is far more capable than logic and systems theory alone for managing today's personal, economic, and political interacting and evolutionary complex adaptive systems.
Understanding the new dialectical meta-systemic tools developed by Otto Laske and found in his books will help us get there far sooner.
While the rational, logical thinking of the first Enlightenment was two-dimensional and linear, we became three-dimensional thinkers with the advent of systems theory. The new dialectical meta-systems thinking elucidated in Laske's books brings us into four-dimensional thinking (three dimensions plus time). It also allows one to deal with unpredictable spontaneities, nonlinear and unknown feedback loops, and other issues that arise with multiple and single dialectically interacting complex systems.
It shows a person how to step outside their thoughts, problems, or issues to consider them objectively by using twenty-eight different dialectical thought forms to redirect attention, creating four-dimensional dialectical thinking. The ability to think in a dialectical metasystemic way is a huge advantage in all areas of life. It is far more effective in dealing with today's complex adaptive systems and multisystem problems. Dialectical meta-systemic analysis and problem-solving are essential in understanding the complexity of the universe's evolutionary processes.
It's no exaggeration to say that Laske's books are among the best yet written about the evolution of cognition and human thinking. While Laske stands on the shoulders of the giants of dialectical thinking like Hegel, Adorno, and Jaques, he is a rare genius who has not only explained the developmentugh the seamless integration of multiple perspectives and frameworks, including psychology, science, and, indirectly, the mystical core of theology, but of thought thro he has also significantly advanced it.
Powerful life and world-rearranging epiphanies by the bucketful await the conscious reader of this 4D revolution in dialectical meta-systemic thinking.
Laske's complex systems dialectical thinking process provides a well-thought-out "thinking" agency for any optimized decision-making process that results in wise action, thus creating the better future we all seek. There is little doubt that someday, learning the dialectical meta-systemic thinking skills using Laske's 28 attention-redirecting thought forms will be an educational requirement for all in advanced decisional or predictive positions!
Laske's advanced methodology has allowed me to integrate many observations about my life and my climate change science and evolution theory work in less time than I ever imagined possible. It even helped me evaluate complex personal situations in my life in a whole new way, either saving me untold trouble and cost or more quickly motivating me to take wise risks and seize new opportunities that hold real, dialectically evaluated benefits.
Until now, a well-defined and complete evolutionary dialectical meta-systemic thinking system has been the main element lacking in effectively resolving the challenges of the multiple complex systems interacting in our world today. Laske's new book provides exactly that missing element. There is little doubt that this work will eventually spread within other progressive social and activist movements.
Laske's books on this subject are nothing less than a true gift to humanity! Eventually, he will be recognized as the individual who did much to help bring about and forward a second great Enlightenment. However, as amazing as it is, this new analysis and problem-solving methodology also poses a few significant challenges to its readers.
Although Laske says that anyone can be taught complex systems of dialectical thinking, his books are a difficult read for many individuals. Laske's writing style is concept-dense and demands that you pay careful attention to each initial definition he uses. He may take you through a dozen interrelated or sequential new thinking conceptual spaces in one paragraph alone. In addition to the implied high cognitive capacity requirements, social and emotional development requirements also play an essential part in one's ability to understand and "get" Laske's new dialectical metasystemic training manuals and tools.
Whether you're a corporate, government, or non-profit sector leader, I recommend getting Laske's books fast. Laske's books on learning this thinking breakthrough are a must-read for anyone who believes that optimized thinking processes are the best way to create success in almost any area. Laske's books, plus Dialectical Thinking and Adult Development by Michael Basseches, will hopefully find their way into the planet's most important critical thinking applications, where one deals with analyzing multiple complex adaptive systems and their interactions.
Our organization highly recommends learning Laske's Dialectical Meta-Systemic books.
Lawrence Wollersheim wrote the above review in January 2009
He is a senior analyst and Executive Director at several organizations, using advanced dialectical meta-systemic analysis and problem-solving skills at the Universe Institute and Job One for Humanity.
Important Past Laske Publications
Below is the cover of Otto Laske's first book on the new methodology. It is no longer being published, and it has been replaced with Laske's three new books on DTF and DMAP, which are described here.
In the Spring of 2022, Wolfgang Pabst, the German science publisher, published a complete reprint of DTFM (in English) and of Measuring Hidden Dimensions (MHD) volume 1, subtitled ‘The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults,’ a refinement of R. Kegan’s social-emotional thinking in both English and German.
About Laske's earlier "companion" book to Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems, Vol 2.
There is a second book by Otto Laske, which has been found very useful for understanding human development and capacity, and how it relates to developing dialectical metasystemic thinking. It is called Measuring Hidden Dimensions, The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults, "Voluem 1." (To clarify, the new 3 Springer books described above, which replace the out-of-publication, Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems Vol 2, do not contain the materials of Otto Laske's earlier book, Measuring Hidden Dimensions, The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults.
Laske’s work on metasystemic thinking is based on the insight that cultivating complex thinking is not an exclusively cognitive issue but also presupposes a social-emotional and psychological component. Laske has outlined the social-emotional component, which has to do with the level of personal maturity a person has reached, in his ‘volume 1’, entitled Measuring Hidden Dimensions, The Art and Science of Fully Engaging, a work in which he also details the psychological component which has to do with the self-conduct, approach to tasks, and emotional intelligence of the thinker.
Unfortunately, developmental science has not caught up with Laske in that it treats cognitive adult development exclusively as cognitive rather than as a developmental issue.
Our organization strongly recommends you buy and read this book when you buy the three new Springer Publishing versions of the original and out-of-print Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems, Vol. 2.
How to get “Volume 1”, the social-emotional development component of dialectical metasystemic thinking.
This book is published separately by Pabst Science Publisher.
In German: https://www.abebooks.com/9783958538245/Potenziale-Menschen-erkennen-wecken-messen-395853824X/plp
You also might be able to find volume one used on Amazon.
The role of Laske's earlier two books (Volumes 1 and 2) is described above
Laske's two older books concern two quite different strands of adult development: social-emotional (volume 1) and cognitive (volume 2), and that developmental science has not advanced to the point of connecting these two using dialectical thinking (as Laske did in the Pabst and Springer publications). The remaining scientific issue is that we lack deep research about how the social-emotional and cognitive aspects of complex thinking relate to each other.
It is important to note that viewing the development of dialectical thinking as a purely ‘cognitive’ issue, i.e., out of context with social-emotional development and psychological profile, as now done, is a mistake since one cannot take ‘thinking’ out of the larger context in which ‘thinking’ develops. While this is currently being done in developmental science, it is an immature viewpoint.
Be sure to get the Springer new three-volume set and Measuring Hidden Dimensions, The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults, Volume 1. Please also note that in the book Superintelligence (described further up the page), one can see to an interesting degree the development of an individual who has learned dialectical metasystemic thinking, the interweaving of their cognitive and social-emotional development, and the expression of their psychological profile.
Do you like this page?
