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

THEORIES as DEDUCTIVE SYSTEMS 3)

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W. ACAR elaborates on R.L. ACKOFF's understanding of what is a theory in the following definition (1988, p.172):

"Theory: a deductive system comprising

1) a set of defined and undefined concepts denoted as the "symbolism" or language of the theory

2) an assumptional or axiomatic foundation denoted as the "postulates" or "hypotheses" on which the theory rests

3) A set of implicit or explicit formation or transformation rules, called the "logic" of the theory

4) A set of deduced propositions called the "theorems", "laws", or "results" of the theory

5) A set of instances of applications of the results of theorems, known as "facts", "consequences" or "implications" of the theory".

ACAR comments: "We now perceive very clearly what the Singerian philosophical school has forecasted, the relativity of our knowledge base and the increased use we make of models. Both basic and applied research make an extensive use of the modelling activity" (p.173).

Deductive theory are basically algorithmic. When some new observations or concepts cannot be reduced to the structure of existing theory, this must be modified or abandoned.

It is also clear that a theory is a conceptual system, with general characteristics and a kind of conceptual closure that mirrors organizational closure in living 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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