GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY 2)3)
← Back
A collection of concepts, models and laws referred to the nature and behavior of complex systems.
M. BUNGE observes: "Paradoxically enough, this is not a single theory but a whole set of theories – automata theory, linear systems theory, control theory, network theory, general Lagrangian dynamics, etc. – unified by a philosophical framework… We shall call systemics this set of theories that focus on the structural characteristics of systems and can therefore cross the largely artificial barriers between disciplines" (1979, p.1).
This compiler agrees with BUNGE and consequently, the term "systemics" is generally used in this dictionary in place of the expression "General Systems Theory".
G.S.T. tries to respond to the need to research organized complexity and is complementary to the study of organized simplicity (starting with classical mechanics) and inorganized complexity (as f. ex. classical statistical physics).
According to I.V. BLAUBERG, V.N. SADOVSKY and E.G. YUDIN, the main tasks of the General Systems Theory are as follows:
"1. The definition of the "system" concept and all other concepts related to it
2. The classification of systems and the discovery of laws pertaining to systems in general and to special classes of systems.
3. The construction of models (of various degrees of generality) of system behavior (functioning, development).
4 The development of a special formal apparatus (logical and methodological included) for the solution of problems indicated in (1 )-(3) and for formulating the general theoretical foundations of special systems concepts such as the theory of control systems, the theory of automata and the theory of information systems "(1977, p.162).
Of course, these very basic tasks should be constantly sustained and validated by the observation and study of the numerous objects that may be conceived and modelized as systems.
The cited authors add the following comment (by M. MESAROVIC, 1964, p.4,5): "General Systems Theory, as a theory of general models must encompass the specific theories concerned with the more restrictive types of models; e.g. the theory of linear systems, the theory of Markov systems, etc. GST also unifies the theories of different aspects of system behavior such as communication, control, adaptation, learning, self-organization, theory of computing and algorithms, etc."
"Accordingly, the greatest difficulty in constructing a general systems theory, in MESAROVIC's view is "to find the proper level of abstraction" (BLAUBERG et al, p.166).
Possibly, we should work on different levels in order to define in every case the most properly adjusted one.
Categories
- 1) General information
- 2) Methodology or model
- 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
- 4) Human sciences
- 5) Discipline oriented
Publisher
Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).
To cite this page, please use the following information:
Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]
We thank the following partners for making the open access of this volume possible:
