Footprints of General Systems Theory (original) (raw)
Related papers
General Systems Theory: Its Past and Potential
Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2015
This paper has three parts. First, I discuss what I take as the original stimulus and the purpose of general systems theory (GST) to be, why I think it is important, and how I came to be involved in it. I reflect on von Bertalanffy's general system (sic) theory and the early debates on the topic, stressing the essential concept of isomorphism, with its rewards in following up parallel developments in different domains, and its risks and temptations in the projection of grand and all-inclusive systems. Second, I discuss the direction my own work took after my term as President of the Society for General Systems Research (1966)(1967), and how it diverged from the early program, in particular in its emphasis on the difference between system and structure and on the essential role of individual subjectivity in the latter. I stress the importance of the concept of 'relation' as underlying that of 'system', and in particular the difference between relations as embodied in physical systems and relations as components of intentional structures that may or may not correspond to physical systems. In the third and final part, I discuss the place of GST in the philosophy of science, especially in connection with the unity of science movement, and its potential for the organization of this domain. I ask what light the concept of system can throw on our knowledge of the universe and its worlds (a distinction explained in the paper), and what the risks are of assuming tight isomorphisms between mathematical structures and physical systems, for example, in cosmology and quantum mechanics.
On the Possibility of General Systems Theory Star (GST*): Universal Concrete Systems Theory
General Schemas Theory Star (GST*) is proposed by David Rousseau as a new initiative in General Systems Research to find Universal Concrete Principles of Systematology. This paper explores the necessary conditions for the possibility of such principles, and suggests what they might be like given the fact that they are at this point unknown. This paper applies Category Theory in order to understand what these Principles might be. This paper finds that these princples exist between the Ontological hierarchy of Schemas and the Ontic Emergent Hierarchy of non-reducible entities that Science finds in existence and that this intermediary position may be the basis for Special Systems emergence.
Theory of Systems, Systems Metaphysics and Neoplatonism
American Journal of Systems and Software, 2015
Science has been developed from the rational-empirical methods, having as a consequence, the representation of existing phenomena without understanding the root causes. The question which currently has is the sense of the being, and in a simplified way, one can say that the dogmatic religion lead to misinterpretations, the empirical sciences contain the exact rational representations of phenomena. Thus, Science has been able to get rid of the dogmatic religion. The project for the sciences of being looks to return to reality its essential foundations; under the plan of theory of systems necessarily involves a search for the meaning of Reality.
“ General Systems Theory ” as “ Theory of Emergence ”
2005
1. Introduction 2. The paradox of a General Systems Theory without emergence 2.1 Reductionistic usage of the concept of system 2.2 Bertalanffy's view 2.3 Emergence: a non-reductionistic usage of the concept of system 2.4 Emergence and General Systems Theory 2.5 Inter-and Trans-disciplinarity 3. Abstract The concept of system, due to the complexity of problems, is currently necessarily used in many disciplinary fields (i.e. engineering, economics, physics and biology), but in a reductionistic way, based on considering a system as a structured and organised set of interacting elements with focus on structure, organisation, and roles of elements rather than on interaction. That accounts to considering Systems Theory as First-order Cybernetics. Within this framework only a limited number of systemic properties are considered and the wide range of collective phenomena are ignored. This reductionistic approach is used for methodologies and representations, by considering systems estab...
SYSTEMS THEORY AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Systems Theory and the Philosophy of Science, 1978
In this paper we discuss the status of systems theory. We start the discussion by making some remarks about matters of status. Then the development of a critical rationalist philosophy of science is dealt with. We emphasize the role of metaphysics. First Popper's falsificationism and Lakatos' methodology of scientific research programmes are briefly reviewed, followed by our own view, which has been influenced by Watkins' ideas of metaphysical research programmes. In the remaining paragraphs Bunge's view of models and methods is described and criticized ; the relations between systems theory, mathematics and metaphysics are elaborated; and some recent approaches to systems theory are considered. In the concluding remarks we will try to point out some problems which remain to be solved in the methodology and philosophy of science in relation to systems theory.
TWO KINDS OF GENERAL THEORIES IN SYSTEMS SCIENCE
A key tenet of the philosophy of science is that science progresses when a more general theory is formulated. That is, an aim of science is to explain as many phenomena as possible with as few statements as possible. This idea, that more general theories are preferred over more specialized theories, lies at the heart of systems science. But are there different ways in which a theory can be more general? Is there a tradeoff between universality and testability? Does increasing generalization lead to a loss of information and utility? An examination of several principles from systems theory and cybernetics suggests three conclusions: there are two types of general theories; general theories requires "domain specific knowledge" to make the connection between theory and experiment or between theory and practice; and theories which are more general than those formulated in the traditional disciplines can be effective at facilitating communication among disciplines.
International Journal of General Systems, vol. 44, n°5, pp. 523-571, 2015
Bertalanffy's so-called "general system theory" (GST) and cybernetics were and are often confused: this calls for clarification. In this article, Bertalanffy's conceptions and ideas are compared with those developed in cybernetics in order to investigate the differences and convergences. Bertalanffy was concerned with first order cybernetics. Nonetheless, his perspectivist epistemology is also relevant with regard to developments in second order cybernetics, and the latter is therefore also considered to some extent. W. Ross Ashby's important role as mediator between GST and cybernetics is analysed. The respective basic epistemological approaches, scientific approaches and inherent world views are discussed. We underline the complementarity of cybernetic and "organismic" trends in systems research within the unitary hermeneutical framework of "general systemology".