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.

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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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MODEL AND THEORY 2)3)

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M. SIRGYand W. ACAR debate in the following terms the differences of "model" and "theory".

SIRGY writes (1988, p. 171): "A model is a conceptual tool that postulates a set of relationships between concepts for the main purpose of controlling a given phenomenon from which prediction serves the controlling function.

A theory on the other hand, is a conceptual tool that postulates a set of relationships between/among concepts for the main purpose of explaining a given phenomenon from which prediction falls out the explanatory function".

According to SIRGY, basic scientists tend to use theories more than models. They are more interested in explanation than in control, while applied scientists more readily apply models for the opposite reason.

ACAR, on the other hand, describes "theories… as deductive systems" (ACKOFF) and argues that a model is "an embryonic theory",while a theory is generalized full-term model". He understand that the model is embryonic because:

- its language is generally borrowed and is seldom tailor-made

- its underlying assumptions may not yet have fully surfaced

- its underlying logic may still be in the making

- its propositions are still being explored and probably have not reached theorem status yet

- not all its implications have yet been understood (1988, p. 173).

Eventually, a much worked out model or a family of models may lead to a theory.

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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