International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

This classification responds to purposes different to MILLER's, but is in no way contradictory nor incompatible.

J.L.LE MOIGNE (1977, p.97-112) describes the following nine levels of modelization of the organization of the "objects" (a term comparable to "system" for the more differentiated levels):

- The passive object: which, simply, exists and in most cases corresponds to a quite elemental level: an atom, a molecule, a crystal, a planet, a word.

- The active object: which takes part in some activity: the atom which gives cohesion to a molecule, the word which has a specific sense in a sentence.

- The regulated object Which counts with an internal device selecting its future behavior in relation to its former one, by way of some feedback of the output on the input.

- The informed object: which possesses an internal device including a register of its previous states allowing in association with the feedback device, for conditional behaviors.

- The object fitted with a decider: which acquires a device allowing it possibilities of alternative choices in relation to the available information, "when the action of the system is an event for which occurence no change in the environment is necessary, nor sufficient" (ACKOFF, 1971) or "when not being unavoidable, the choice of the action must be decided by the object itself"(LE MOIGNE, 1977, p.103).

- The active object, endowed with memory: i.e. fitted with a repertory of former situations and actions, which permits the definition of decision criteria. LE MOIGNE observes: "A decider without memory and whose behavior would not be aleatory, can only be an algorithm" (p.107). The memory storage implies the existence of a "memorization processor" which provides the internal representation of the information.

- The coordinated active object: which carries on multiple decision processes related to multiple operative processes and is fitted with a general arbitration processor which decides between the various necessities in charge of specialized processors. According to LE MOIGNE, the concept of coordination is better than the integration concept, as it "refers to a function that must be ensured, but not necessarily to an imperative project" (p.111).

- The imaginating active object: in which some processors are able to interpret information that, for others, is mere noise. In such conditions, new connexions may appear among processors within the system and modify its behavior. Self-organizing capabilities emerge, correlated to learning behaviors and emergence of intelligence.

- The self-finalizing active object: The object acquires "the ability to create its own projects: if it can be finalized it may also be finalizing" (p.115). LE MOIGNE thus quotes J. MELESE: "The finalities of a system cannot be understood, and still less be constructed if not in relation to its connexions with its surroundings… The system… may be characterized as the interface between a finalizing will and an environment" (MELESE, 1972, p.53).

LE MOIGNE admits, however, that this "finalizing will" is still an imprecise concept" (p.115).

According to LE MOIGNE, the first four levels constitute the field of mechanics, while the last five pertain to systemics. LE MOIGNE's text is illustrated with figures that quite enlighten the nature of these nine levels of organization.