BCSSS

International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

2nd Edition, as published by Charles François 2004 Presented by the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science Vienna for public access.

About

The International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics was first edited and published by the system scientist Charles François in 1997. The online version that is provided here was based on the 2nd edition in 2004. It was uploaded and gifted to the center by ASC president Michael Lissack in 2019; the BCSSS purchased the rights for the re-publication of this volume in 200?. In 2018, the original editor expressed his wish to pass on the stewardship over the maintenance and further development of the encyclopedia to the Bertalanffy Center. In the future, the BCSSS seeks to further develop the encyclopedia by open collaboration within the systems sciences. Until the center has found and been able to implement an adequate technical solution for this, the static website is made accessible for the benefit of public scholarship and education.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

PREFERENCES (Collective) 2)4)

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The problem of harmonization of collective preferences has been considered by K. ARROW (1956, 1963). After his mathematical modeling work he came to the conclusion that the only methods to clearly define collective preferences from individual ones, if there is a great number of individuals, is to impose them

In MORIN's words (1999b, p. 85) there is no possibility to create a good optimizing algorithm in any human collective behavior. The definition of the major good or the least evil leads to an uncertainty that cannot be eliminated

This reflects or course the multiplicity and complexity of the shifting interactions which take place in constantly variable ways

It sheds a dispiriting light on the interrelations between cultures. It could also explain the universal need for values and norms in defining and strenghtening all kinds of social conducts (as expressed by the german term "Gleichschaltung" (= bringing into line), with its unfortunate authoritarian undertones)

But at least some help could conceivably be found in opinion inquiries and polls, even if not conclusive, nor of permanent validity.

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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]

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