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

INQUIRY SYSTEM 1)3)

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"A system of interrelated components for producing knowledge on a problem or issue of importance" (I.I. MITROFF and H. A. LINSTONE, 1993, p.29).

This definition is adapted from C. WEST CHURCHMAN (1971), who described the evolution of the concept of inquiry system from LEIBNIZ to SINGER and proposed his own synthesis, within the frame of a wide epistemological analysis.

CHURCHMAN's views have deeply influenced the following generation of systemists interested in inquiry and inquiring systems.

MITROFF and LINSTONE make the following points:

"First, every I.S. has or accepts, distinctive inputs from the "outside world"… The inputs that a particular I.S. recognizes as legitimate are not necessarily recognizable by other I.S.'s…

"Second, different I.S.'s employ different kind of operators (i.e.) the mechanism that operates or works on the basic inputs to transform them into the final output of the system, or knowledge…

"Third, the output of an I.S. is what the system regards as a valid knowledge for action on an issue of importance

"Fourth, the most critical component is known as the guarantor…, the component guaranteeing the operation of the entire I.S. itself" (p.30).

These statements imply that any I.S. is based on criteria defined by the inquirer or, in other words, is based on definitory subjective appreciations. This is unavoidable, but rarely perceived. Methods to clarify those criteria should always be used (See for example J.van GIGCH's meta-levels, J. WARFIELD's methodology to manage "spreadthink" (i.e. seek consensus when facing widely divergent opinions) and G.de ZEEUW's invisibility).

Note: Most authors do not seem to make a distinction between "inquiry" and "inquiring" systems. In some cases, "inquiring" systems could be compared with H.von FOERSTER observing" systems.

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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