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.

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ENVELOPE 2)

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The external surface that limits the volume of space occupied by a system.

Differently, in mathematical terms, an envelope is a curve that is tangential to every member of a family of lines or curves.

This abstract concept (still defined in different terms by R. ACKOFF and EMERY, 1972, p.17) has been used by F. ZWICKY to describe higher levels of integration of processes at lower levels (Morphognetic worldview, 1971), and F. MEYER in a dynamic meaning, to describe acceleration in general evolution (1954).

In a more physical sense, close to "boundary", composite systems, which are continuously shifting in their composition and form, do not have any permanent envelope. It is also impossible in most cases, to describe an envelope for an ecosystem or a human organization.

Only quite strongly integrated systems may be said to have a well definable envelope, as for example the skin of an animal.

The enveloppe is at the same time a boundary that separates the system from its environment and an interface through which exchanges with the same (inputs, outputs) take place. It is sometimes fractalized, which makes it difficult to define its limits.

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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