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

GENERAL SYSTEMS PROBLEM SOLVER 2)3)

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G. KLIR refers himself to the General Systems Problem Solver (GSPS), whose: "…kernel… is a hierarchy of epistemological categories of systems, which represents the most fundamental taxonomy of systems…

"At the lowest level of the epistemological hierarchy, we define an experimental frame in terms of appropriate variables, their state sets (value sets) and an interpretation of these as real worlds attributes. In addition, some supporting medium (such as time, space, or a population) within which the variables change their states must also be specified. Furthermore, variables may be classified as input and output variables.

"An experimental frame (also called a source system) may be viewed as a data description language. When actual data described in this language become available, we move to the next level in the hierarchy. Systems on this level are called data systems.

"When variables of an experimental frame are characterized by a relation among them, we move to a level that is still higher in the hierarchy. It is assumed on this level that the relationship among the variables is invariant with respect to the supporting medium involved… That is, it is time-invariant, spaceinvariant, space-time-invariant, population invariant, etc…

"We say that a data system is represented by a behavior system if, under appropriate initial or boundary conditions, the support-invariant relation of the latter can be utilized for generating the data of the former… A behavior system is capable to generate for example, predictions or retrodictions of the variables involved. Moreover, it provides us with an explanation of the behavior ot the variables within the given supporting medium.

"Climbing further up the hierarchy involves two principles of integrating systems as components in larger systems. According to the first principle, several behavior systems (or sometimes lower level systems) that may share some variables or interact in some other way are viewed as subsystems integrated into one overall system. Overall systems of this sort are called structure systems. The subsystems forming a structure system are often called its elements.

"When elements of a structure system are themselves structure systems, we call the overall system a second order structure system. Higher order structure systems are defined in the same way…

"The key feature of the epistemological hierarchy is that every system defined on some level in the hierarchy entails knowledge associated with all corresponding systems on lower levels and, at the same time, contains some knowledge that is not available in any of these lower level systems" (1993, p.32-33).

The interest of the GSPS is that all concepts and models used in general systemics and cybernetics can be applied within its frame. However, chaotic systems should possibly need some general modelling adaptations.

The GSPS should not be confused with SIMON and NEWELL's General Problem Solver.

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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