OUTLOOK

A current problem within the field of system theories, or system sciences, is that adherents subscribe to different notions of the philosophy behind system approaches; this problem is particularly evident within cybernetics and GST. As noted above, GST is not bound to naive realism and, in principle, Bertalanffy's perspectivist epistemology is not incompatible with the constructivism of second-order cybernetics. More detailed investigations are needed to discern where the approaches overlap.

To encourage further investigation into a synthesis of system sciences, we suggest that system theory adherents examine the different 'dimensions' of GST. We specifically recommend the following dimensions: scientific concepts and methods, epistemology, ontology, world view, ideology and history of ideas. We contend that misunderstandings about approaches and intents can be overcome if adherents are aware of the existence of different dimensions and if they can identify from which dimension others may decide to approach an issue. Thereby the overlaps between different approaches can easily become apparent.

As a scientific concept, for instance, autopoiesis might serve as one link between cybernetics and GST. Gloy (1995, p. 246f) identifies the concept of autopoiesis, as introduced by Humberto Maturana, as an extension of Bertalanffy's concept of steady state (Fliessgleichgewicht), where, supposedly, self-reference extends the former concept.

A synthesis–if one is possible–of the various system approaches is still missing, but incorporating the proposed dimensions may provide a good starting point for adherents of system theories to bring together approaches from different fields.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 976