Facing Complexity: General System Theory

15 – 17 May 2013Curso de Extensión: Pensamiento sistémico abierto: en la encrucijada de un mundo complejoUniversidad de León

Wolfgang HofkirchnerAssociate Professor, Vienna University of TechnologyPresident, Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (www.bcsss.org)President Elect, International Society for Information Studies (www.is4is.org)

Contents

1 A new way of thinking: thinking in complexity1.1 Global challenges1.2 Integrativism1.3 Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General System Theory (GST)1.4 Science

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

3 A new design of the future: humane systems design3.1 Evolutionary systems stage model3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism3.3 World system transition

1 A new way of thinking: thinking in complexity

1.1 Global challenges

1.1 Global challenges

global challenges = challenges that

1.1 Global challenges

global challenges = challenges that

(1) affect (the survival of) all humanity (objective factor) and

1.1 Global challenges

global challenges = challenges that

(1) affect (the survival of) all humanity (objective factor) and

(2) can successfully be treated only by humanity as a whole (subjective factor)

1.1 Global challenges

1.1 Global challenges

global challenges are complex challenges:

1.1 Global challenges

global challenges are complex challenges:

their complexity exceeds the problem-solving capacity of any currently existing social system – complexity needs to be reduced in order to enable the system to cope with the challenges*: by establishing a meta-level

1.1 Global challenges

global challenges are complex challenges:

their complexity exceeds the problem-solving capacity of any currently existing social system – complexity needs to be reduced in order to enable the system to cope with the challenges*: by establishing a meta-level

*) Ross W. Ashby: a system needs to have at least the same variety as another system to be able to steer that system; Niklas Luhmann: a system needs to reduce the complexity of another system to be able to steer that system

1.2 Integrativism

ways of thinking

reductionism

projectivism

disjunctivism

integrativism

relationship between lower and higher complexity

relationship between identity and difference; unification or diversification

reduces higher complexity to lower complexity

identity without differenceprojects higher complexity onto lower complexity identity without differencedisjoins higher complexity from lower complexity difference without identityintegrates lower with higher complexity and differentiates between them unity of identity and difference

1.2 Integrativism

ways of thinking

reductionism

projectivism

disjunctivism

integrativism

relationship between lower and higher complexity

relationship between identity and difference; unification or diversification

reduces higher complexity to lower complexity

identity without differenceprojects higher complexity onto lower complexity identity without differencedisjoins higher complexity from lower complexity difference without identityintegrates lower with higher complexity and differentiates between them unity of identity and difference

1.2 Integrativism

ways of thinking

reductionism

projectivism

disjunctivism

integrativism

relationship between lower and higher complexity

relationship between identity and difference; unification or diversification

reduces higher complexity to lower complexity

identity without differenceprojects higher complexity onto lower complexity identity without differencedisjoins higher complexity from lower complexity difference without identityintegrates lower with higher complexity and differentiates between them unity of identity and difference

1.2 Integrativism

ways of thinking

reductionism

projectivism

disjunctivism

integrativism

relationship between lower and higher complexity

relationship between identity and difference; unification or diversification

reduces higher complexity to lower complexity

identity without differenceprojects higher complexity onto lower complexity identity without differencedisjoins higher complexity from lower complexity difference without identityintegrates lower with higher complexity and differentiates between them unity of identity and difference

1.2 Integrativism

ways of thinking

reductionism

projectivism

disjunctivism

integrativism

relationship between lower and higher complexity

relationship between identity and difference; unification or diversification

reduces higher complexity to lower complexity

identity without differenceprojects higher complexity onto lower complexity identity without differencedisjoins higher complexity from lower complexity difference without identityintegrates lower with higher complexity and differentiates between them unity of identity and difference

1.2 Integrativism

1.3 Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General System Theory

sublation of mechanicism (physicalism) and vitalism (metaphysics)

theory of universal principles applying to real-world systems irrespective of their physical, biotic or social nature

1.3.1 Epistemology

•mathematical terms or natural language, if the first option is not possible

•anti-reductionism and anti-projectivism: neither physicalism nor biologism

•models mirror only certain traits ("perspectivism")

1.3.2 Ontology

•differentiation and integration (principle of progressive organisation – "anamorphosis")

•the concept of wholeness: maintenance of the organisation through change of components

•superposition of many levels

1.3.3 Ethics

•humanistic concerns about global challenges: history's irrationality and bestiality is to be ascribed to socio-cultural systems but not individuals

1.4 Science

philosophy

real-world sciences

natural sciences (physics incl. cosmology, chemistry, biology, part of psychology, etc.)

formal sciences (logics, mathe-matics)

social and human sciences

general

specific

engineering, applied or technological sciences as well as arts(e.g. computer and information science)

1.4 Science

philosophy

real-world sciences

natural sciences (physics incl. cosmology, chemistry, biology, part of psychology, etc.)

formal sciences (logics, mathe-matics)

social and human sciences

general

specific

engineering, applied or technological sciences as well as arts(e.g. computer and information science)

science of contemporary society

1.4 Science

philosophy

real-world sciences

natural sciences (physics incl. cosmology, chemistry, biology, part of psychology, etc.)

formal sciences (logics, mathe-matics)

social and human sciences

general

specific

engineering, applied or technological sciences as well as arts(e.g. computer and information science)

science of contemporary society

GeneralSystemTheory

systems philosophy

formal systems science(methodo-logy)

science of real-world systems

general

specific

science of artificial systems design

science of the world system in statu nascendi

1.4 Science

systems philosophy

formal systems science(methodo-logy)

science of real-world systems

science of material (physi-cal) systems

science of living (biotic) systems

science of human(social) systems

general

specific

science of artificial systems design

science of the world system in statu nascendi

1.4 Science

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

self-organisation =def. spontaneous build-up/maintenance of order in matter (in nature, in and between real-world systems)

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

self-organisation =def. spontaneous build-up/maintenance of order in matter (in nature, in and between real-world systems)

puzzle: entropy law S>0 (growing disorder)vs. life (growing order)?

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

self-organisation =def. spontaneous build-up/maintenance of order in matter (in nature, in and between real-world systems)

puzzle: entropy law S>0 (growing disorder)vs. life (growing order)?

solution: open systems(merger of systems theory and evolutionary theory)

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents

Metasystem transition 1:individual phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents

Metasystem transition 1:individual phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction

Metasystem transition 2:interactional phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction

Metasystem transition 2:interactional phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction

Metasystem transition 3:integrative phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction

generate

structure organisationalrelations

Metasystem transition 3:integrative phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

system organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generate

structureMetasystem transition 3:integrative phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

system organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generate

structureMetasystem transition 3:integrative phase

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

system organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structureMetasystem transition 3:integrative phase

self-organisation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structureSuprasystem 1:reproduction

system

self-organisation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structureSuprasystem 1:reproduction

system

self-organisation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structureSuprasystem 1:reproduction

system

self-organisation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structuresystem

self-organisation

Suprasystem 1:reproduction

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structuresystem

self-organisation

Suprasystem 2:transformation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structuresystem

self-organisation

Suprasystem 2:transformation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structuresystem

self-organisation

Suprasystem 2:transformation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structuresystem

self-organisation

Suprasystem 2:transformation

2 A new conception of the world: self-organisation

agents in interaction(microlevel)

constrain and enable

organisationalrelations(macrolevel)

generateemergence

dominance

structuresystem

self-organisation

Suprasystem 2:transformation

3 A new design for the future: humane systems design

3.1 Evolutionary systems stage model

3.1 Evolutionary systems stage model

systems n

levels

phases

3.1 Evolutionary systems stage model

systems n

phase n phase n+1

levels

phases

meta-/suprasystem n+1space ofpossibilities n

complexification

emergence from a necessary condition

3.1 Evolutionary systems stage model

systems n

phase n phase n+1

level n+1

level n

levels

phases

meta-/suprasystem n+1space ofpossibilities n

complexification

new organisational relations

elements n+1

emergence from a necessary condition

downw

ard causationthrough higher-order structure

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

Strict determinism

t

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

space of possibility

(there is only one option)

space of impossibilities

Strict determinism

space of impossibilitiest

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

space of possibility

(there is only one option)

space of impossibilities

space of impossibilitiest

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

t

(empty space of impossibilities)

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

all-embracing space of possibilities

(everything is possible)

Indeterminism

t

(empty space of impossibilities)

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

all-embracing space of possibilities

(everything is possible)

t

(empty space of impossibilities)

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

all-embracing space of possibilities

(everything is possible)

t

(empty space of impossibilities)

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

all-embracing space of possibilities

(everything is possible)

t

Less-than-strictdeterminism

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

Less-than-strictdeterminism

t

3.2 Neither strict determinism nor indeterminism

Less-than-strictdeterminism

space of possibilities

space of impossibilities

t

3.3 World system transition

Historical situationsas points ofbifurcation

space of possibilities

space of impossibilities

t

3.3 World system transition

The Great Bifurcation

space of possibilities

space of impossibilities

today

3.3 World system transition

The Great Bifurcation

amplifiedfluctuations

(=crisis)

space of possibilities

space of impossibilities

today

3.3 World system transition

The Great Bifurcation

amplifiedfluctuations

(=crisis)

regulated financial capitalismspace of possibilities

space of impossibilities

today

3.3 World system transition

The Great Bifurcation

amplifiedfluctuations

(=crisis)

mastering the global challenges: Global Sustainable InformationSociety (GSIS)

social systems falling apart:exterminism, barbarism

regulated financial capitalismspace of possibilities

space of impossibilities

today