An Overview of Elements and Relations: Aspects of a Scientific Metaphysics

Authors

Martin Zwick, Portland State UniversityFollow

Streaming Media

Published In

Mini-symposium for the International Society for the Systems Sciences

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

Winter 11-10-2023

Subjects

Metaphysics, Science -- Philosophy, System theory

Abstract

A talk on my book, Elements and Relations: Aspects of a Scientific Metaphysics. Book description:

This book develops the core proposition that systems theory is an attempt to construct an “exact and scientific metaphysics,” a system of general ideas central to science that can be expressed mathematically. Collectively, these ideas would constitute a non-reductionist “theory of everything” unlike what is being sought in physics. Inherently transdisciplinary, systems theory offers ideas and methods that are relevant to all of the sciences and also to professional fields such as systems engineering, public policy, business, and social work. To demonstrate the generality and importance of the systems project, the book structures its content in three parts: Essay, Notes, and Commentary. The Essay section is a short distillation of systems ideas that illuminate the problems that many types of systems face. Commentary explains systems thinking, its value, and its relation to mainstream scientific knowledge. It shows how systems ideas revise our understanding of science and how they impact our views on religion, politics, and history. Finally, Notes contains all the mathematics in the book, as well as scientific, philosophical, and poetic content that is accessible to readers without a strong mathematical background.

Elements and Relations is intended for researchers and students in the systems (complexity) field as well as related fields of social science modeling, systems biology and ecology, and cognitive science. It can be used as a textbook in systems courses at the undergraduate or graduate level and for STEM education. As much of the book does not require a background in mathematics, it is also suitable for general readers in the natural and social sciences as well as in the humanities, especially philosophy.

Rights

CC BY-ND 4.0
Attribution-No Derivatives
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41005

Citation Details

Zwick, Martin (2023). "An Overview of Elements and Relations: Aspects of a Scientific Metaphysics. Mini-symposium via Zoom to International Society for the Systems Sciences, Nov. 10, 2023.