Systems Science Friday Noon Seminar Series

What is Not a System?

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Date

2-21-2020

Abstract

The difficulties in applying General Systems Theory (GST) have pointed out notable inconsistencies in what needs to be included in GST, intransitivities between competing or subsidiary theories based on GST and a plethora of definitions for a system. GST made significant inroads into creating awareness for systemsness and stimulate a revolution in thinking. However, the appropriate degree of precision for GST as a theory fails to be a scientific theory, fails to provide a framework for interpreting systemsness, fails as a model of concomitance of parts to whole, fails to predict, fails to clarify, and fails to state properties applicable to and found in all systems. A property-based approach to constructing a neo-definition of systems is proposed. The result is to enliven the discussion leading to a Neo-General Systems Theory (N-GST). N-GST must build on the successes of GST to explain what GST cannot, be grounded in empirical data and be testable, explain mechanisms and conditions that enable systemness, describe the logico that results in a finer analysis of consequence, incorporate all aspects of and predicts what cannot be predicted with GST, and be extended by means of modal operators for mereological essentialism. Out of N-GST should come a definitive definition of systems for all disciplines, fields, and applications. Finding the general principles is the science of systems. Identifying integration and interoperability problems, and evaluating and enhancing performances is the engineering of system.

Biographical Information

Gary Langford is a serial entrepreneur founding five companies, taking one public on Nasdaq; was executive vice president of a merchant bank; a Nasa Ames research fellow with 2 space missions to Mars; a systems engineer working for multiple aerospace companies; and for 19 years, teaching systems engineering at Portland State University, Naval Postgraduate School, and Stanford University. He has an A.B. in Astronomy (UC Berkeley), M.S. in Physics (Cal State University, Hayward), and Ph.D. in Electronics and Engineering (University of South Australia). Dr. Langford’s research is focused on integration and interoperability of systems.

Subjects

System theory -- Philosophy, Complexity (Philosophy), Science (Philosophy)

Disciplines

Philosophy of Science | Science and Technology Studies

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/32432

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© Copyright the author(s)

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What is Not a System?

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