Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy (September 19, 1901 – June 12, 1972) was an Austrian-born biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory (GST).
GST is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology, cybernetics, and other fields.
General system theory
The theory attempted to provide alternatives to conventional models of organization. GST defined new foundations and developments as a generalized theory of systems with applications to numerous areas of study, emphasizing holism over reductionism, organism over mechanism.
Foundational to GST are the inter-relationships between elements which all together form the whole.
Open systems
Bertalanffy's contribution to systems theory is best known for his theory of open systems. The system theorist argued that traditional closed system models based on classical science and the second law of thermodynamics were inadequate for explaining large classes of phenomena. Bertalanffy maintained that “the conventional formulation of physics are, in principle, inapplicable to the living organism being open system having steady state.
In Bertalanffy’s model, the theorist defined general principles of open systems and the limitations of conventional models. Concerning biology, examples from the open systems view suggested they “may suffice to indicate briefly the large fields of application” that could be the “outlines of a wider generalization;” He developed implications for cybernetics also. Bertalanffy also noted unsolved problems.
Systems in the social sciences
In the social sciences, Bertalanffy did believe that general systems concepts were applicable, e.g. theories that had been introduced into the field of sociology from a modern systems approach that included “the concept of general system, of feedback, information, communication, etc.” He critiqued classical “atomistic” conceptions of social systems and ideation “such as ‘social physics’ as was often attempted in a reductionist spirit.” The theory encouraged for new developments from sociology, to anthropology, economics, political science, and psychology among other areas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_von_Bertalanffy
http://www.isss.org/lumLVB.htm
Very detailed paper on General System Theory http://www.mind-development.eu/systems.html
Systems Approach in Management
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