The Image: Knowledge in Life & Society

by Kenneth E. Boulding

Boulding discusses the image as the key to understanding society and human behavior

Genres: Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Nonfiction, Economics

Paperback

First published November 15, 1956

Reviews

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just now finished Kenneth Boulding's "The Image". What is obvious is that he is a very erudite man. He knows lots of things about lots of things. He probably comes reasonably close to knowing everything about everything but not quite. I'm not sure he knows how to explain himself. He writes about the image & we all know what images are, or do we? He writes about the image as a base element of scientific - especially social scientific - inquiry but I'm lost as to what he's getting at. Images interact with external information establishing feedback loops & modification of the image. I read image & I think: IMAGE, IMAGINATION, IDEATION but he's saying more than that & I don't know what it is that he is saying. There are some things he says which are clear & some of these things are pointed, witty or hilariously funny but I don't think these things are the main point. One thing I wonder if he knows - knew - because it's a modern finding is that we don't really do things for the reasons we state (ideation); we do things for biochemical/genetic reasons & then use made up verbiage to justify what we've done. I think this would change Boulding's musings.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful book about general systems theory and the like. As it was written in the 1960s, a bit outdated and the baseline level of knowledge that was accessible was limited compared to today's standards. For one thing, he lends credence to Freudian theory, which made me sad. If you keep an open mind about the "unknowns" at the time, the book posits very clever and insight comments about different aspects of our "image". If all else failed, he established a very thorough and well developed of the term "image", which in a nutshell distills down to our perception, zeitgeist, and experience as humans and as a society.

[noblethumos · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Image: Knowledge in Life and Society" is a book written by Kenneth E. Boulding, an economist and systems theorist, originally published in 1956. The book explores the role of imagery, or mental models and symbols, in shaping human perception, knowledge, and behavior.

Boulding argues that human beings rely heavily on imagery to make sense of the world and to communicate with each other. He suggests that the images we hold in our minds shape our perceptions of reality, and that they can either limit or expand our understanding of the world around us. Boulding also explores how different types of imagery, such as scientific models, myths, and metaphors, are used in various fields of knowledge and in different cultures.

In addition, Boulding discusses the implications of the role of imagery for social organization and change. He argues that social systems, such as economies and governments, are also based on shared images and symbols, and that changing these images can lead to social transformation. Boulding also explores the relationship between image and power, suggesting that those who control the dominant images in society have a significant influence on shaping social norms and behavior.

Overall, "The Image" is a pioneering work in the field of communication and information theory, and it has had a significant influence on fields such as social psychology, cultural studies, and systems theory. The book remains relevant today for its insights into the role of imagery in shaping human perception and behavior, and for its exploration of the complex relationships between knowledge, power, and social change.

GPT

[Ryan Barretto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an old book. The author has written each chapter in an essay style, which makes it difficult to figure breaks in subtopics. This can make it tedious for reading.

That said, the information and perspective shared by the author on this topic of how the image affects and originates in different aspects of the world.

This would be an essential read for people in the helping profession - viz. teaching, psychology. coaching and counselling.

[Álvaro Malo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter Two discusses the role of the image in organization. Organization here refers simply to the obverse of chaos. Boulding proposes seven levels and describes a hierarchy of increasing organization, from static structures to dynamic process of the human mind. An image occurs in most rudimentary form in any system capable of homeostasis. The concept of the image becomes an increasingly important part of any theoretical model as the degree of organizational complexity increases — one of the most brilliant concepts ever formulated on the topic.

[Paul Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous and visionary look at society and it's evolution. Boulding brings fourth many ideas commonly overlooked, and from his usual Whole Systems Perspective.