Change and transformation of human systems are increasingly seen as the fundamental solution space for treating the root causes of unsustainability. What does transformation of human systems for sustainability exactly mean and entail, and how to effectively transform human systems? This paper addresses these essential questions in a holistic, systems thinking approach following and extending the leverage points tool for systemic change proposed by Meadows (Thinking in Systems: a primer. Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, 2008). The paper focuses on the often unquestioned, largely unconscious, systemic realm of mental models and human intent. It targets Meadows’ deepest leverage points of purpose and paradigm; beyond, it deals with worldview, core metaphor, and human thinking. The fundamental outcome of this conceptual study is that unsustainability roots in a cognitive illusion coupled to a lack of teleological thinking. Transformation needs us to see and reconceive the human–world bond through the systemic lens of dynamic inclusion, aliveness, purpose and value. Learning to think in terms of living systems, physical and mental, and substituting the iceberg metaphor-in-use in conventional systems thinking with a holistic metaphor of nested leverage points are the first transformation steps toward a new sustainability paradigm. Practical evidence and ecological content come from the transformative design discipline of biomimicry, which consciously turns to nature as the source of its conceptual system. The paper concludes that transformative practice for sustainability will gain momentum by braiding together systems thinking in practice and biomimicry thinking. In sum, this transdisciplinary approach opens up exciting research horizons in ontological, epistemological, methodological and teleological directions.

人类系统的变化和转变越来越被视为解决不可持续性根源的基本解决方案。为可持续发展而进行的人类系统转型到底意味着什么和需要什么，以及如何有效地改变人类系统？本文以一种整体的系统思考方法解决了这些基本问题，该方法遵循并扩展了Meadows提出的系统变革的杠杆点工具（《系统思考：入门》。切尔西绿色出版社，怀特河交界处，2008年。本文着重于心智模型和人类意图的通常毫无疑问的，很大程度上无意识的系统领域。它针对Meadows最深的目的和范式杠杆点。此外，它还涉及世界观，核心隐喻和人类思维。这项概念性研究的基本结果是，不可持续性源于认知幻觉，再加上缺乏目的论思维。变革需要我们通过动态包容，活力，目标和价值的系统视角来观察和重新认识人与世界之间的联系。学会从生命系统，身心方面思考，并用嵌套杠杆点的整体隐喻代替传统系统中的“冰山”使用隐喻，是迈向新的可持续发展范式的第一步。实际证据和生态学内容来自仿生学的变革性设计学科，该学科有意识地将自然作为其概念体系的来源。本文的结论是，通过将实践中的系统思维与仿生思维结合在一起，可持续性的变革实践将获得动力。总之，这种跨学科的方法在本体论，认识论，方法论和目的论的方向上开辟了令人兴奋的研究视野。它自觉地转向自然作为其概念系统的来源。本文的结论是，通过将实践中的系统思维与仿生思维结合在一起，可持续性的变革实践将获得动力。总之，这种跨学科的方法在本体论，认识论，方法论和目的论的方向上开辟了令人兴奋的研究视野。它自觉地转向自然作为其概念系统的来源。本文的结论是，通过将实践中的系统思维与仿生思维结合在一起，可持续性的变革实践将获得动力。总之，这种跨学科的方法在本体论，认识论，方法论和目的论的方向上开辟了令人兴奋的研究视野。