"Compared to the analytical procedure of classical science with resolution into component elements and one-way or linear causality as basic category, the investigation of organized wholes of many variables requires new categories of interaction, transaction, organization, teleology..."

"These considerations lead to the postulate of a new scientific discipline which we call general system theory. It's subject matter is formulation of principles that are valid for "systems" in general, whatever the nature of the component elements and the relations or "forces" between them...

"General system theory, therefore, is a general science of wholeness"...

The meaning of the somewhat mystical expression, "The whole is more that the sum of its parts" is simply that constitutive characteristics are not explanable from the characteristics of the isolated parts. "

To Order General System Theory

For more information about ISSS, please contact:

Harold Nelson, ISSS President

Harold G. Nelson, Ph.D., M. Arch. RA
President; Advanced Design Institute
www.advanceddesign.org

Email Nelsongroup@Worldnet.att.net

Peter A. Corning, ISSS Past President

Institute for the Study of Complex Systems
119 Bryant Street, Suite 212
Palo Alto, CA 94301 USA
e:mail: ISCS@aol.com

Bela Banathy, ISSS Past President

38 Seca Place
Salinas CA 93908
phone: 831-375-7614
e:mail: BABanathy@worldnet.att.net

G. A. Swanson, ISSS Past President

VP of Administration

Dept of Acct & Bus Law,
Box 5024
Tennessee Tech University
Cookeville, TN 38505
phone: (931) 372-3883
fax: 931) 372-6249 fax
e-mail: GASwanson@tntech.edu

with special thanks to


A
Thought
for a Day

ANNA LEMKOW

...an inquiry into the dynamics of wholeness as an all-pervasive principle, by its nature... will demand obtaining as synoptic and inclusive a perspective as possible. one that comprehends to some measure the multi-formed and multi-dimensional nature of existence.

adapted from "The Wholeness Principle"

International Society for the System Sciences (ISSS)

Science For Humanity

Welcome

Featuring

CALL FOR PAPERS 2001

jump to ...

Special Presentations

Conferences

Bulletins

Educational Projects

References

Links

Membership

Administration

About the Web Pages

INTRODUCTION

From General System Theory by Ludwig von Bertalanffy