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

MODULE 1)2)

← Back

Any standard structural element that may replace another element of the same type or class in a system or a subsystem, or be added to it.

Modules are generally of finite duration, as for example molecules, cells, snow flakes, or living beings.

According to L. CARLSON-SABELLI and H. SABELLI "The universe is formed by classes of similar entities (modules) at each level of organization (electrons, sodium atoms, starfish, system theorists). This is the principle of uniform structure of nature (MILL) also called the principle of mass production (J. THOMSON). For each class of modules there necessarily is a complementary class: cation and anion; sun and planet; woman and man; teacher and student, etc.)…

"Modules can be exchanged for each other as parts of systems. An entity may readily change the system to which it belongs, but not its class. One module may replace another in a system without affecting its overall function. Modules, even when equivalent to each other within the context of a given interaction, may not be equivalent in relation to other interactions, and may be completely unique (e.g. snow flakes, human beings, books). Systems are formed by modules of many types, and often contain many individuals of each class. Complementary modules interact harmonically, conflictually and co-creatively. Social classes are obvious examples" (1993, p.682).

→ Hora and Tempus parable

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]

We thank the following partners for making the open access of this volume possible:

© 2020 BCSSS Contact/Imprint