Von Bertalanffy, Ludwig
Published: October 30, 2006, 7:42 pm
Updated: October 30, 2006, 7:42 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Peter Saundry
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901 - 1972) was an Austrian biologist who first proposed the basic tenets of general systems theory and applied the system methodology to the social sciences. In General Systems Theory (1968), he reacted against reductionism and emphasized that real systems are open to, and interact with, their environments, and that they can acquire qualitatively new properties through emergence, resulting in continual evolution. Energy and entropy play important roles in general systems theory. The general system shows a kind of self-regulation comparable to the behavior of an organic system. For example, if you observe the energy flow of an open system, it tends towards a steady state because that phase corresponds to a minimum entropy production enduring the systems conditions. The minimum production stabilizes the system structure and the dynamics of storages and flows. Thus, the system will achieve the dissipative state that configures a structure since it maintains itself in a state far from equilibrium. The same concepts and principles of organization underlie different disciplines (physics, biology, technology, sociology, etc.), providing a basis for their unification.
Further Readings
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972) (International Society for the Systems Sciences)
Systems Theory (Principia Cybernetica Web)
Bertalanffy Homepage (Bertalanffy.org)
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Von Bertalanffy, Ludwig". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth October 30, 2006; Last revised Date October 30, 2006; Retrieved May 24, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Von_Bertalanffy,_Ludwig>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901 - 1972) was an Austrian biologist who first proposed the basic tenets of general systems theory and applied the system methodology to the social sciences. In General Systems Theory (1968), he reacted against reductionism and emphasized that real systems are open to, and interact with, their environments, and that they can acquire qualitatively new properties through emergence, resulting in continual evolution. Energy and entropy play important roles in general systems theory. The general system shows a kind of self-regulation comparable to the behavior of an organic system. For example, if you observe the energy flow of an open system, it tends towards a steady state because that phase corresponds to a minimum entropy production enduring the systems conditions. The minimum production stabilizes the system structure and the dynamics of storages and flows. Thus, the system will achieve the dissipative state that configures a structure since it maintains itself in a state far from equilibrium. The same concepts and principles of organization underlie different disciplines (physics, biology, technology, sociology, etc.), providing a basis for their unification.
Further Readings
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972) (International Society for the Systems Sciences)
Systems Theory (Principia Cybernetica Web)
Bertalanffy Homepage (Bertalanffy.org)
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