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

RELEVANCE 1)3)4)

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The character of something which is related to, or pertinent, in relation with an investigated issue.

Elements, events, environment are considered relevant for a system if, at least in some cases and sometimes, they exert an influence on its behavior.

Of course, criteria of relevance are defined by the observer and his/her specific viewpoint. They are thus never absolute and, in many cases, may even be illusory.

From a systemic viewpoint, we could tentatively distinguish:

Underconceptualized relevance: Relevance is considered only from a very narrow viewpoint by an individual or a small group merely interested in an ill-understood and/or ill-conceived circumstancial and very limited issue. In most cases no serious research is done, or taken into account. In some, serious (or spurious) research may even be used as an ad-hoc tool to further some dubious objective.

This type of viewpoints is very common in day-to-day politics.

Broad relevance: Relevance is considered in a long term and wide embracing perspective. This supposes a clear definition and a broad inquiry about the system considered and also of the motives, expectations and goals of all the stakeholders. However, research excessive in scope and in time may lead to procrastination.

In big issues, as for example great public works, the limits of relevance should be clearly defined, justified and explained.

Overconceptualized relevance: Relevance is considered in such a vast space and time perspective that it becomes… irrelevant for any practical purpose.

In such cases, red-hot issues may remain unattended while spurious research and abstract debates linger unconclusively on.

A good understanding of systems and their conditions of existence and survival is instrumental in defining criteria of relevance at any level.

On the contrary, the lack of appreciation of the relevance of some events or elements for a given system leads to unwarranted simplifications and, at times, very costly errors.

→ Underconceptualization; Invisibility

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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