General Systems Theory:
"Systems theory was proposed in the 1940's by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy (
: General Systems Theory, 1968), and furthered by Ross Ashby (Introduction to Cybernetics, 1956). von Bertalanffy was both reacting agaInst reductionism and attempting to revive the unity of science. "
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SYSTHEOR.html
General Systems Theory:
"This theory was developed by biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1936. He felt the need for a theory to guide research in several disciplines because he saw striking parallels among them. His hunch was that if multiple disciplines focused their research & theory development efforts, they would be able to identify laws & principles which would apply to many systems. This would allow scholars & scientists to make sense of system charactieristics such as wholeness, differentiation, order, equifinality, progression & others. With a common framework, scientists could better communicate their findings with each other & build upon each other's work. He believed that over time, what was discovered would come to be applicable to life in general.
More than 50 years later, the work in understanding systems has evolved to the point that we incorporate many of the concepts into our everyday language. We speak of a health care system, a family system, body systems, information systems, banking systems, political systems..."
http://www.bsn-gn.eku.edu/BEGLEY/GSThand1.htm
"Thus, if one can show that the schemes are isomorphic in regard to the basic underlying invariances then these invariances (or uniformities) can be held to "signify a unity of the observed universe and hence of science. Their presence does not mean that all areas of reality are reduced to a single level, e.g., that of biological or sociological organized complexity, but that the various levels of reality, ranging from the atomic to ecological nature are "vertically" interrelated by means of properties lending themselves to isomorphic s, i,e., those which exhibit fundamental invariances of basic constructs, conserved throughout a range of transformations. It is not the analogy of phenomena, nor yet the identity of properties, which signifies the possibility of General System Theory, but the isomorphy of invariant constructs, such as laws of development, structure and self-maintenance, occurring in differentiated form in the manifold realms of nature."
Ervin Laszlo
http://www.n4bz.org/gst/gst1.htm
"Von Bertalanffy explained that he thought of the idea of General System Theory back in 1936 but hesitated until 1948 when the intellectual climate was more receptive.
However, William Johnston showed that the basic elements were in his mind as far back as the twenties,
THE PRIMER PROJECT
A TASTE OF SYSTEMICS
photocredit: isss.org
Bela Banathy
"The systems view is a world-view that is based on the discipline of SYSTEM INQUIRY, Central to systems inquiry is the concept of SYSTEM. In the most general sense, system means a configuration of parts connected and joined together by a web of relationships. The Primer group defines system as a family of relationships among the members acting as a whole. Bertalanffy defined system as "elements in standing relationship."
General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications
by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy
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