The New Yorker article "How Do You Know When a System Has Failed?" explores the complexities surrounding the notion of system failure, particularly in various societal structures like healthcare, law enforcement, and governance. Using the popular culture reference of DJs incorporating glitches into music sets, the piece discusses how real-life systems often face challenges that are not easily classified as complete failures. The author emphasizes that many systems are inherently flawed, requiring ongoing maintenance rather than radical overhauls. Through philosophical concepts like the ship of Theseus and Neurath’s Boat, the article highlights how systems are resilient yet frequently misaligned, arguing that true change requires understanding the intricacies that maintain these systems rather than simply replacing elements of them.

Key Points:

• DJs have incorporated system failures as a humorous and creative punctuation in music, highlighting our cultural fascination with system glitches.
• There is a tendency to label systems as failures (e.g., healthcare, law enforcement) when they exhibit significant flaws, leading to calls for drastic reforms.
• System failure is often complex and does not imply total dysfunction; systems can function while requiring maintenance.
• Systems theory suggests that a system is a collection of interrelated components needing ongoing adjustment rather than wholesale replacement.
• Major changes to a system require understanding its interconnections and purposes, rather than just swapping out elements.
• Real systemic change is a complex process shaped by values and the intricate functions of the system, rather than merely imposing willful solutions.
  Link to Article