Abstract (by Warfield): “The person and writings of Michel Foucault are introduced, with focus on Foucault's system thinking. The results of his prolonged study of systems of thought, extending across recorded history, are offered in capsule form, with major reference to present-day systems literature. His unique view of how to pursue historical study is given, and his views on trends in Systems Thinking are described. Suggestions for future elaboration of systems thinking re offered, with reference to various social roles, including roles in higher education.”

This paper was part of Warfield's collection for his Economics Research studies. He had placed a copy of it in his Economics Research Note-binder No. 6 and listed it in his Index of economics study papers. The paper is an imaginary conversation between Foucault and a modern day interviewer. (It was written by Warfield about the same time period as his imaginary Foucault conversations in other papers, done for Panetics journal). Roxana Cardenas is listed as co-author but I don't think she ever contributed anything. In September 2001 Warfield sent a copy of this paper to Cardenas for her to comment, contribute, edit, etc. but nothing further was done on it. It remained an unfinished manuscript which he kept as part of his ECONOMICS RESEARCH note-binder collection (in Note-binder #6, donated to University of the Ozarks).

Below is a list of topical headings within the paper, plus one table:

System Focus of Your Research

Describing Yourself

Ability to Sustain a Focus

Your Work and the Systems Literature

Diversity in the Literature

History in Systems Literature

Beginnings of System Study

Your Choice of Organizations to Study

Trends in Systems Thinking

TABLE 1. HISTORIC TIME PERIODS

r.w. September 2012.