Return-Path: Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1993 13:05:34 EDT Reply-To: Cybernetics and Systems Sender: Cybernetics and Systems From: Cybernetics and Systems Moderator Subject: Re: Key References (on Systems Theory) X-To: Cybernetics + Systems list To: Multiple recipients of list CYBSYS-L Really-From: fheyligh@vnet3.vub.ac.be (Francis Heylighen) Date: Mon, 27 Sep 93 12:33:34 +0100 In article Burkholder David, david@chem1.chem.dal.ca writes: > I consider myself a "generalist" and have begun to explore >the roots of General Systems Theory in the late 60's and early 70's. I am >now looking for the "cutting edge" and have been unable to find many recent >references. Has this area been integrated into other disciplines, faded >out, been renamed, or am I missing some key references. > I'm wondering whether there are any recent >texts, papers or reviews dealing with this. The area is still alive and active, though the activities tend to be rather scattered over many places and approaches. GST is now more often called "Systems Science" or "Systems Research", and is usually associated with Cybernetics, leading to the common label "Cybernetics and Systems (Research, science, theory...)". Good journals are: Int. J. of General Systems Systems Research Cybernetics and Systems Kybernetes The following is a selection from my bibliographic database covering references starting from the beginning of the eighties. It misses one important overview book, though, "Facets of Systems Science" (1991) by George Klir (publisher might be Plenum). The book first gives a basic overview of the main concepts, and then provides a selection of classic papers in the field. (most other work of Klir is relevant also). I further include a definition of Systems Theory, for those who don't know very well what this is all about. ***Bibliography:*** Csanyi V. (1991): Evolutionary Systems and Society: a general theory, (Duke University Press, Durham, NC). Flood R. L. and Carson, Ewart R. (1988): Dealing with complexity: an introduction to the theory and application of systems science, (Plenum Press, New York). Hall, AD (1989): Metasystems Methodology, ( Pergamon, Oxford). Heylighen F., Rosseel E. & Demeyere F. (eds.) ( 1990): Self-Steering and Cognition in Complex Systems. Toward a New Cybernetics, (Gordon and Breach, New York). Kampis G. (1990): Self-Modifying Systems: a new framework for dynamics, information and complexity, (Pergamon, New York). Klir, George (1985): Architecture of Systems Problem Solving, (Plenum, New York ). Mesarovic, MD, and Takahara, (1988): Abstract Systems Theory, (Springer-Verlag, Berlin ). Rapoport, Anatol (1984): General Systems Theory: Essential Concepts and Applications, ( Abacus, Cambridge). Rosen, Robert (1985): Anticipatory Systems, ( Pergamon, Oxford ). Sandquist, GM (1985): Introduction to Systems Science, ( Prentice Hall, Eng. Cliffs NJ). Singh M.G. (ed.) (1988): Systems & Control Encyclopedia, (Pergamon, Oxford). Snow B.A. (1990): Education in the Systems Sciences. An annotated guide to education and research opportunities in the sciences of complexity, (The Elmwood Institute, Berkely, CA). Weinberg, Gerard M. (1988): Rethinking Systems Analysis and Decision, (Dorset House, New York). Wilson, B (1984): Systems: Concepts, Methodologies, and Applications, (Wiley, Chichester UK). ***Definition*** Systems Theory: the transdisciplinary study of the abstract ORGANIZATION of phenomena, independent of their substance, type, or spatial or temporal scale of existence. It investigates both the principles common to all complex entities, and the (usually mathematical) MODELS which can be used to describe them. Systems theory was proposed in the 1940's by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanfy (anthology: 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. He emphasized that real systems are open to, and interact with, their environments, and that they can acquire qualitatively new properties through EMERGENCE, resulting in continual EVOLUTION. Rather than reducing an entity (e.g. the human body) to the properties of its parts or elements (e.g. organs or cells), systems theory focuses on the arrangement of and RELATIONS between the parts which connect them into a whole (cf. HOLISM). This particular ORGANIZATION determines a SYSTEM, which is independent of the concrete substance of the elements (e.g. particles, cells, transistors, people, etc). Thus, the same concepts and principles of organization underlie the different disciplines (physics, biology, technology, sociology, etc.), providing a basis for their unification. Systems concepts include: system-environment BOUNDARY, INPUT, OUTPUT, PROCESS, STATE, HIERARCHY, GOAL-DIRECTEDNESS, and INFORMATION. The developments of systems theory are diverse (Klir, Facets of Systems Science, 1991), including conceptual foundations and philosophy (e.g. the philosophies of Bunge, Bahm and Laszlo); mathematical modeling and INFORMATION THEORY (e.g. the work of Mesarovic and Klir); and practical applications. Mathematical systems theory arose from the development of isomorphies between the models of electrical circuits and other systems. Applications include engineering, computing, ecology, management, and family psychotherapy. Systems analysis, developed independently of systems theory, applies systems principles to aid a decision-maker with problems of identifying, reconstructing, optimizing, and controlling a system (usually a socio-technical organization), while taking into account multiple objectives, constraints and resources. It aims to specify possible courses of action, together with their risks, costs and benefits. Systems theory is closely connected to CYBERNETICS, and also to SYSTEM DYNAMICS, which models changes in a NETWORK of coupled variables (e.g. the "world dynamics" models of Jay Forrester and the Club of Rome). Related ideas are used in the emerging "sciences of COMPLEXITY", studying SELF-ORGANIZATION and heterogeneous networks of interacting actors, and associated domains such as FAR-FROM-EQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS, CHAOTIC DYNAMICS, ARTIFICIAL LIFE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, NEURAL NETWORKS, and computer MODELING AND SIMULATION. Francis Heylighen and Cliff Joslyn Prepared for the Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy.(Copyright Cambridge University Press) _______________________________________________________________________ Dr. Francis Heylighen Systems Researcher PO, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B -1050 Brussels, Belgium Phone:+32-2-6412525; Fax:+32-2-6412489; Email: fheyligh@vnet3.vub.ac.be _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Dr. Francis Heylighen Systems Researcher PO, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B -1050 Brussels, Belgium Phone:+32-2-6412525; Fax:+32-2-6412489; Email: fheyligh@vnet3.vub.ac.be