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

WORLD GOVERNANCE 1)4)

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The rapid and complete integration process of a world system now ongoing introduces the issue of world governance. This is probably the most critical ever issue in the evolution of mankind.

The existence and possible use of massive destruction weapons implies the possibility of self annihilation of the human species, if not all life on this planet.

World governance is typically a mega-systemic matter

Every aspect of human life in relation to the natural environment as well as to the internal organization of human groups at every conceivable level must enter into the global panorama of the world governance issue.

The present world situation is a confused network of muddled interactions of multiple different kinds and, obviously, no single individual, nor group could even dream of understanding this whole in any detail.

The only basic feature is that multiple and dangerous contradictions are present in every domain we can think of. Only one basic idea seems clear; we (i.e. the six billions inhabitants of the planet) must harmonize our symbiosis with our planetarian Mitwelt (environment) and eliminate the dangerous and sometimes murderous disfunctionalities, oppositions and misunderstandings that lead everyday to thousands of premature deaths.

Our problem is at first a matter of understanding in systemic terms of the conditions that would lead to our demise or survival. Secondly, we must find out how we could avoid the first and secure the second. This is also a matter of cybernetic and systemic understanding.

And finally, if not all, at least a considerable majority of people should seek consensus through conversation and assume their own responsability in practical action. The growing number of groups and institutions (governmental or primary) that are reaching consciousness of evermore numerous aspects of the global issues shows that we are on our way. But it is a race against time.

In this sense systemic and cybernetic research is much more than an academic topic and could finally become a decisive global life saver. It could provide us with tools for understanding and the education and training of better helmsmen.

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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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