Flashcards: Systems theory

A complex system is a system that exhibits some (and possibly all) of the following characteristics: * feedback loops; * some degree of spontaneous order; * robustness of the order; * emergent organization; * numerosity; * hierarchical organization.

Spontaneous order, also named "self-organization", is the spontaneous emergence of order out of seeming chaos.

In early philosophies of psychology and metaphysics, conatus (/koʊˈneɪtəs/; Latin for "effort; endeavor; impulse, inclination, tendency; undertaking; striving") is an innate inclination of a thing to continue to exist and enhance itself.

The term "autopoiesis" (from Greek αὐτo- (auto-), meaning "self", and ποίησις (poiesis), meaning "creation, production") refers to a system capable of reproducing and maintaining itself.

In science, computing, and engineering, a black box is a device, system or object which can be viewed in terms of its inputs and outputs (or transfer characteristics), without any knowledge of its internal workings.

In numerous fields of study, the component of instability within a system is generally characterized by some of the outputs or internal states growing without bounds.

System dynamics (SD) is an approach to understanding the nonlinear behaviour of complex systems over time using stocks, flows, internal feedback loops, and time delays.

A system is a set of interacting or interdependent component parts forming a complex/intricate whole.

Systems theory or systems science is the interdisciplinary study of systems in general, with the goal of discovering patterns and elucidating principles that can be discerned from and applied to all types of systems at all nesting levels in all fields of research.

Ecological systems theory, also called development in context or human ecology theory, identifies five environmental systems with which an individual interacts.

World-systems theory (also known as world-systems analysis or the world-systems perspective), a multidisciplinary, macro-scale approach to world history and social change, emphasizes the world-system (and not nation states) as the primary (but not exclusive) unit of social analysis.

Econophysics is an interdisciplinary research field, applying theories and methods originally developed by physicists in order to solve problems in economics, usually those including uncertainty or stochastic processes and nonlinear dynamics.

An open system is a system that has external interactions.

In mathematics, catastrophe theory is a branch of bifurcation theory in the study of dynamical systems; it is also a particular special case of more general singularity theory in geometry.

In physics, chemistry and materials science, percolation (from Latin percōlāre, "to filter" or "trickle through") refers to the movement and filtering of fluids through porous materials.

Social network analysis (SNA) is the process of investigating social structures through the use of network and graph theories.

Constructivist epistemology is a branch in philosophy of science maintaining that natural science consists of mental constructs that are constructed with the aim of explaining sensory experience (or measurements) of the natural world.

DSRP is a theory and method of thinking, developed by educational theorist and cognitive scientist Derek Cabrera.

In social dynamics, critical mass is a sufficient number of adopters of an innovation in a social system so that the rate of adoption becomes self-sustaining and creates further growth.

Interconnectedness is part of the terminology of a worldview which sees a oneness in all things.

In physics and philosophy, a relational theory is a framework to understand reality or a physical system in such a way that the positions and other properties of objects are only meaningful relative to other objects.

Wonderland is an integrated mathematical model used for studying phenomena in sustainable development.