User:Thomas Mandel/General Systems Theory

General Systems Theory is the title of a book written by Ludwitg von Bertanffy first published in 1968. It is not, however, a book about a theory. Theory is a translation of the original German Theorie which has a meaning closer to the English word "teaching." We will be using the phrase General Systems THeory (GST) throughout this article because that is how it was translated and used in the English languages.

GST is primarily about general principles of systems which can be applied to all systems regardless of their content. When used in this way, system has a particular definition which is defined by Bertalanffy as "elements in standing relationship." (ref) Systems such as a system of arrangement, or as a procedure of how to do a particular task, or even "my system" are not the kinds of systems Bertalanffy talked about. He often referred to organismic systems, essentially those systems which integrate the elements resulting in a new and different whole. This aspect is crucial to understanding integrative systems because the new whole will generally have properties that are not found in the constituent parts. One example is liquid water, made of gases. We do not experience those gases, instead we experience their relationship,e.g., the wetness.