The Past, Present and Possible Future for Systems (original) (raw)

2017, International Journal of Systems and Society

In this article, the author briefly summarise the characteristics of the science of complexity or post- Bertalanffy General Systems. The author discusses the shift from considering systems as acquiring properties due to their explicit or supposed design, to self-organised, emergent systems. Characteristics, approaches to modelling and interventions to change vary in nature with the post-Bertalanffy Systemics. While new suitable models and approaches are under study in sciences, such as physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, and neurosciences, the author detects significant backwardness when dealing with the complexity of social systems and related problems that are developing in the post-industrial age. These problems include economic crises, security, defence, privacy, managing prisons, and supporting development. Such social problems are inadequately faced by using classical Bertalanffy's systemic concepts or by simply transposing models and changing the meanin...