Published In

International Journal of General Systems

Document Type

Pre-Print

Publication Date

1-1-2001

Subjects

Systems theory, Human sciences, Paradigms, Fuzzy systems, Imperfection, Godel's proof

Abstract

This essay is a selective review of Systems: New Paradigms for the Human Sciences, edited by Gabriel Altmann and Walter A. Koch (Berlin: Walter de Gryter, 1998). It is selective because it is impossible to engage such a varied collection of systems-theoretic essays in a review of reasonable length. To invoke a relevant dialectical idea: the characteristic strength of any system is often also its characteristic weakness. One strength and weakness of the systems field is its great diversity, and this diversity is reflected in this volume by the range of subjects addressed in its 27 articles. I will not attempt what the editors themselves have declined to undertake, namely an integrating overview, nor will I offer brief remarks on many articles. Instead, I want to comment in detail on just three articles which bear on my own interests. I do not mean to suggest that these articles are more valuable or central to systems theory than the others. After discussing the three articles, I will conclude by adding a few general remarks and by listing the authors and titles of the essays in the book, so that readers might be alerted to items of potential interest. From my study of the three articles I discuss and from my skimming of several other articles, I strongly recommend this book to systems researchers, especially researchers interested in the human sciences.

Rights

This is the pre-print version of a work published in International Journal of General Systems, © Taylor and Francis.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42730

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