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

FINALITY 3)4)

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Goal or objective that a system seems to pursue, in spite of disturbances, induced by its environment or of endogenous origin.

In systemics this concept does not imply intentionality. It merely characterizes an observed behavioral pattern, which appears to be recurrent or permanent. It is thus neither mechanicist, nor transcendental.

Finality, in this systemic-cybernetic meaning, is characterized by regulation around definite standards.

Intentional behavior seems proper only to human systems, as claimed for example by J.L. LEMOIGNE, who speaks of "self-finalization" as human capacity to define own goals. This could possibly be extended in a limited sense to superior animals.

As observed by E. SCHWARZ, in no case does teleonomy - a notion more immune to conceptual distorsions - imply some cause in the future for the present state. (1993, p.6) Thus any science fiction time paradox is avoided.

In a different way, the French biologist J. MONOD considered that the complex organization of the human brain entails a kind of predictive capacity and accordingly, some measure of control for the future of its owner. If alternative possibilities exist, then decision making makes sense, as well as goal-directness, goal-seeking (and purpose)

→ Teleonics; Teleonomy; Teleos

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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