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General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications
Gathered here are Ludwig von Bertalanffy's writings on general systems theory, selected and edited to show the evolution of systems theory and to present it applications to problem solving. An attempt to formulate common laws that apply to virtually every scientific field, this conceptual approach has had a profound impact on such widely diverse disciplines as biology, economics, psychology, and demography.
296 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 1969
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About the author
Ludwig Von Bertalanffy
40 books38 followersKarl Ludwig von Bertalanffy (September 19, 1901, Atzgersdorf near Vienna – June 12, 1972, Buffalo, New York) 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. Bertalanffy proposed that the classical laws of thermodynamics applied to closed systems, but not necessarily to "open systems," such as living things. His mathematical model of an organism's growth over time, published in 1934, is still in use today.
Von Bertalanffy grew up in Austria and subsequently worked in Vienna, London, Canada and the USA.
Von Bertalanffy grew up in Austria and subsequently worked in Vienna, London, Canada and the USA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 22, 2018
I'm usually a binary guy: there are books I like and can't get enough of, there are books I hate and reading through them is a chore. General System Theory by Ludwig von Bertalanffy was something in-between.
General System Theory is an attempt to formulate a new kind of branch of science. One that focuses on analyzing systems (i.e conglomerations of parts which cannot be understood by isolating its components), finding common characteristics of various systems (e.g feedback, equifinality) but also guarding against spurious analogies between systems. The new method would bridge the gap between other sciences, help the tighten the diaspora of current science: turning specialists into generalists, and even solve society's ills... or so, the author claims.
This is wherein lines my biggest gripe with the book. It setups itself to be this amazing thing: a new frontier, a new mental model of understanding, the introduction of new tools, a system of philosophy. Instead it feels like a grocery list of system properties (feedback, equilibrium, equifinality), and analysis of some types of systems.
The concepts presented by the author are mind-bending (even if they are presented dryly) - mind bending enough to keep me hooked, yet there's a serious lack of tying principles or even basic pedagogy. Nothing clicked during reading the book, the book doesn't present any method of analysis or anything that could be applied outside of it's scope. As such the book fails miserably at its advertised goal.
I think that the idea of General System Theory is important enough to warrant an extensive research but the book feels more like a loud-advertisement followed by hand-waving.
General System Theory is an attempt to formulate a new kind of branch of science. One that focuses on analyzing systems (i.e conglomerations of parts which cannot be understood by isolating its components), finding common characteristics of various systems (e.g feedback, equifinality) but also guarding against spurious analogies between systems. The new method would bridge the gap between other sciences, help the tighten the diaspora of current science: turning specialists into generalists, and even solve society's ills... or so, the author claims.
This is wherein lines my biggest gripe with the book. It setups itself to be this amazing thing: a new frontier, a new mental model of understanding, the introduction of new tools, a system of philosophy. Instead it feels like a grocery list of system properties (feedback, equilibrium, equifinality), and analysis of some types of systems.
The concepts presented by the author are mind-bending (even if they are presented dryly) - mind bending enough to keep me hooked, yet there's a serious lack of tying principles or even basic pedagogy. Nothing clicked during reading the book, the book doesn't present any method of analysis or anything that could be applied outside of it's scope. As such the book fails miserably at its advertised goal.
I think that the idea of General System Theory is important enough to warrant an extensive research but the book feels more like a loud-advertisement followed by hand-waving.
August 6, 2013
I read this book when I was first graduated from college and had been working with computer systems for a while. I exhibited a natural ability for problem determination, but I did not have the ability to teach it. This book and more important, the people whom it influenced and who in turn influenced me, gave me that ability for which I will forever be grateful.
July 4, 2015
The value of the work is twofold. First, the presentation of General System Theory in and of itself and second, Bertalanffy himself providing a method of thinking by taking the reader through his own process of getting to General System Theory.
I read this book knowing that some of it would be outdated, however since I was unfamiliar with the field I assumed that would be fine. I think I was, there are obviously new developments in this field, but I think this works provides a good foundation.
The chapters are repetitive as it's clearly explained in the book itself because it's a collection of works by Bertalanffy that were previously published in academic journals. I actually found that to be helpful, as I gained from reading the same theory from a different perspective each time, biology, physics, psychology etc.
Bertalanffy is writing for an academic audience in these journals, expecting that his audience has the same educational background in a variety of fields like he does. He expects the reader to be familiar with differential equations and other math. I didn't find this to be a problem, other than one of expectations, like any academic level work, expect to spend some time with a dictionary and an encyclopedia. I found myself skimming through equations, then going back to them for a seconds or third reading then looking them up on the internet for more details. He also frequently uses words in French, German, Latin, often without translation.
I read this book knowing that some of it would be outdated, however since I was unfamiliar with the field I assumed that would be fine. I think I was, there are obviously new developments in this field, but I think this works provides a good foundation.
The chapters are repetitive as it's clearly explained in the book itself because it's a collection of works by Bertalanffy that were previously published in academic journals. I actually found that to be helpful, as I gained from reading the same theory from a different perspective each time, biology, physics, psychology etc.
Bertalanffy is writing for an academic audience in these journals, expecting that his audience has the same educational background in a variety of fields like he does. He expects the reader to be familiar with differential equations and other math. I didn't find this to be a problem, other than one of expectations, like any academic level work, expect to spend some time with a dictionary and an encyclopedia. I found myself skimming through equations, then going back to them for a seconds or third reading then looking them up on the internet for more details. He also frequently uses words in French, German, Latin, often without translation.
March 11, 2021
Libro Semana 11/52: "Teoría general de los sistemas", de Ludwig Von Bertalanffy, es uno de los primeros intentos formales de aunar, en forma sistemática, los esfuerzos destinados a desarrollar una disciplina orientada a mirar las diversas vertientes científicas en una, que las mirara de manera global, y buscara comportamientos transversales.
Retroalimentación, equifinalidad, sistemas isomórficos, entre otros, son conceptos que se asentaron con este libro y, lo más importante, se propone la idea, en la misma línea de Alexander Bogdanov 50 años antes, de la creación de un "científico generalista" quien pueda analizar problemáticas desde un nivel superior y en complemento a la especialización que abunda actualmente. El libro pasa por la biología, química, sociología, psicología, entre otros aplicando patrones, especialmente enfocado en sistemas dinámicos.
Recomendable para quienes les interese tomar en serio una introducción a la teoría de sistemas, y que pueda abrir su mente a los distintos puntos de vista, considerando que Bertalanffy era biólogo.
#teoriageneraldesistemas #ludwingvonbertalanffy #bertalanffy #readingchalleng #goodreads
Retroalimentación, equifinalidad, sistemas isomórficos, entre otros, son conceptos que se asentaron con este libro y, lo más importante, se propone la idea, en la misma línea de Alexander Bogdanov 50 años antes, de la creación de un "científico generalista" quien pueda analizar problemáticas desde un nivel superior y en complemento a la especialización que abunda actualmente. El libro pasa por la biología, química, sociología, psicología, entre otros aplicando patrones, especialmente enfocado en sistemas dinámicos.
Recomendable para quienes les interese tomar en serio una introducción a la teoría de sistemas, y que pueda abrir su mente a los distintos puntos de vista, considerando que Bertalanffy era biólogo.
#teoriageneraldesistemas #ludwingvonbertalanffy #bertalanffy #readingchalleng #goodreads
April 7, 2021
General System Theory is a compendium of essays by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy. After numerous years of study, Bertalanffy came to realize that similar principles had developed across different disciplines in science. This set of principles would aim to explain some of the behavior of larger study group within each discipline (i.e. cells in an organism, civilizations in human history or atoms in molecules). In other words, principles that can apply to systems.
Systems can be composed of a varied of entities, so they can differ very much in composition. But it was the similarity of patterns of behavior that Bertalanffy tried to capture in this General System Theory.
Some of the principles he codified are the concepts of wholeness and sum, differentiation, progressive mechanization, centralization, hierarchical order, finality and equifinality. These were found to apply to different systems.
According to Bertalanffy, yhe main purpose of this all encompassing theory would be to unify science under one big discipline. A discipline that moves away from the mechanistic and reductionist purview of classical science, and tries to acknowledge that sometimes it is not enough to understand how the individual parts work in order to explain the whole.
As other reviewers have noted, starting from the half of the book there is a series of chapters devoted more so to philosophy and biology than to General System Theory. I guess those chapters are of great interest to the scholar, but to someone with no background in either field (like myself), they can be hard to read through. I skim past some of the pages at some point as I could not make much sense of it.
Only few chapters are devoted to explain what General System Theory really is, so the book is not really cohesive from that point of view. Still, I scored it highly because of the wealth of references to other philosophers I hadn't read about and that will take me on a path of further exploration. So if this book was only ever to be an introduction to General System Theory, I believe it served its purpose quite well.
Systems can be composed of a varied of entities, so they can differ very much in composition. But it was the similarity of patterns of behavior that Bertalanffy tried to capture in this General System Theory.
Some of the principles he codified are the concepts of wholeness and sum, differentiation, progressive mechanization, centralization, hierarchical order, finality and equifinality. These were found to apply to different systems.
According to Bertalanffy, yhe main purpose of this all encompassing theory would be to unify science under one big discipline. A discipline that moves away from the mechanistic and reductionist purview of classical science, and tries to acknowledge that sometimes it is not enough to understand how the individual parts work in order to explain the whole.
As other reviewers have noted, starting from the half of the book there is a series of chapters devoted more so to philosophy and biology than to General System Theory. I guess those chapters are of great interest to the scholar, but to someone with no background in either field (like myself), they can be hard to read through. I skim past some of the pages at some point as I could not make much sense of it.
Only few chapters are devoted to explain what General System Theory really is, so the book is not really cohesive from that point of view. Still, I scored it highly because of the wealth of references to other philosophers I hadn't read about and that will take me on a path of further exploration. So if this book was only ever to be an introduction to General System Theory, I believe it served its purpose quite well.
April 23, 2018
A groundbreaking book which came out for almost half a century ago with the aim to propose a world view in systems perspective, and show how general system-theoretical approaches could be applied in different fields of human science and technology.
In the initial sections of the book theoretical considerations and principles are discussed. These are the sections where basically all general ideas presented holds fine even today. It’s a good classical textbook, which I safely refer to when working with my systems dynamics applications. Remaining sections are more or less like history lessons. Many of the concepts that were only open questions back then are already solved today. But not all of them, so there’s still a lot of good stuff engaging thinking.
The emphasis of the book is mainly on human sciences - biology, sociology, psychology, and, to some extent, psychiatrics. Some parts of the book are quite challenging for a non-biologist. There's a good discussion on open/closed-systems, human-machine interaction, symbols, finality and equifinality, homeostasis etc.
Back in those days, and even today, this classical book served well in an attempt to unify science. Every system thinker dealing with degrees of complexity can certainly benefit of reading this classic text.
In the initial sections of the book theoretical considerations and principles are discussed. These are the sections where basically all general ideas presented holds fine even today. It’s a good classical textbook, which I safely refer to when working with my systems dynamics applications. Remaining sections are more or less like history lessons. Many of the concepts that were only open questions back then are already solved today. But not all of them, so there’s still a lot of good stuff engaging thinking.
The emphasis of the book is mainly on human sciences - biology, sociology, psychology, and, to some extent, psychiatrics. Some parts of the book are quite challenging for a non-biologist. There's a good discussion on open/closed-systems, human-machine interaction, symbols, finality and equifinality, homeostasis etc.
Back in those days, and even today, this classical book served well in an attempt to unify science. Every system thinker dealing with degrees of complexity can certainly benefit of reading this classic text.
December 11, 2024
Similar to other reviews, after having read the book all the way through, it really could and should have been edited to a more compact representation. Despite the subject matter itself being deeply fascinating, many of the chapters of the book are repetitive and repeat what Bertalanffy has already said earlier in a slightly different way. Certain chapters though, are deeply interesting for the properties of systems that they discuss: in particular, chapter 3, with its discussion of differential equations modeling fundamental properties of systems, and chapter 6, with its discussion of the information theory and thermodynamic implications and contrasts of different types of systems and their characteristics.
I also deeply appreciated the context of the book: it was written in a time when deep thinkers like Bertalanffy were not so microscopically focused on one discipline that they felt comfortable writing in (if a very stiff) a more approachable style than many of today’s scientific papers.
I also deeply appreciated the context of the book: it was written in a time when deep thinkers like Bertalanffy were not so microscopically focused on one discipline that they felt comfortable writing in (if a very stiff) a more approachable style than many of today’s scientific papers.
April 27, 2021
La obra trata de los fundamentos de la Teoría General de Sistemas(TGS) propuesta por Ludwing Von Bertalanffy. Está compuesta por 9 capítulos. Donde aborda sus orígenes, significado de la TGS, descripción de los sistemas internos y externos, abiertos y cerrados. Sus consideraciones matemáticas, bases y relaciones con otras disciplinas como la cibernética, la teoría de control, la teoría de juegos, la investigación de operaciones y la teoría de la información, entre otras. También, su aplicación en las ciencias básicas y las ciencias del hombre como la psicología, psiquiatría, sociología y antropología. En fin, este libro es clave como un pilar del pensamiento sistémico, sobre él se fundamentarán otros referentes como Maturana, Wiener, Shanon y Weaver, etc. Lo recomiendo leer como un clásico a todo aquel que estudie Ingeniería de Sistemas o que trabaje con esta área del conocimiento.
June 29, 2018
This book plays a prominent role in history. It introduces a framework that is used in design, economic development, Computer Science, and several other areas. It defines a system and how they work. The author takes theories in biology and makes them accessible to other disciplines.
The materials are fairly outdated and the chapters sometimes seem to run on at times. Several mathematical models were well outside my comfort for understanding and at times felt just a bit too in the weeds given the objectives of the book.
Overall, anyone working in systems should read the earlier chapters. The second half is far too specific and complex to be relevant today.
The materials are fairly outdated and the chapters sometimes seem to run on at times. Several mathematical models were well outside my comfort for understanding and at times felt just a bit too in the weeds given the objectives of the book.
Overall, anyone working in systems should read the earlier chapters. The second half is far too specific and complex to be relevant today.
December 31, 2018
El libro que recopiló todo lo que se conocía de sistemas y que, quizá, originó el movimiento de sistemas. Es un libro que va dirigido a enseñar lo que se sabia de tema hasta el momento y cómo es que se había llegado hasta ahí.
No es recomendable leerlo todo, al menos que seas interesado en biología o química, es perfectamente entendible si solo se lee solo los capítulos 1, 2, 3,4y 9, ya que los demás son diversas aproximaciones que resultan fastidiosas ya que dicen básicamente lo mismo.
No es recomendable leerlo todo, al menos que seas interesado en biología o química, es perfectamente entendible si solo se lee solo los capítulos 1, 2, 3,4y 9, ya que los demás son diversas aproximaciones que resultan fastidiosas ya que dicen básicamente lo mismo.
May 4, 2023
Un libro bastante aburrido que no ataca al concepto o problema en si. si no se deriva por otras áreas distintas.
Un libro poco útil si estas estudiando ingeniería de sistemas.
aborrecí completamente la lectura, es un libro bastante científico que trata de abarcar muchos aspectos y temas para su tamaño, al hablar de un tema se desviaba y los ejemplos eran poco prácticos.
Lo que mas destacaría sería el primer capítulo.
Un libro poco útil si estas estudiando ingeniería de sistemas.
aborrecí completamente la lectura, es un libro bastante científico que trata de abarcar muchos aspectos y temas para su tamaño, al hablar de un tema se desviaba y los ejemplos eran poco prácticos.
Lo que mas destacaría sería el primer capítulo.
September 10, 2020
The first part where the author describes the theory of a general systems theory to every science is very interesting. However, to the end, the part about the relativity of categories has some good points but other are very refutable.
As a book, being a collection of articles around the same subject, makes it somehow repetitive.
As a book, being a collection of articles around the same subject, makes it somehow repetitive.
November 22, 2018
I read this book in order to learn more about the system theory of management but this book is heavily focused on biology, organism and pyhsics.. therefore; if your main aim is to get familiar with system approach to management, it is not advised.
May 25, 2019
This book is less about systems theory and more about search for the one. Some abstract concepts and cross-sciences analysis are quite interesting, but there is a strong feeling that these things are already outdated.
June 18, 2019
I could not stop reading this book. The theory presented in the chapters is fascinating and I personally liked the style of the author. Some of the mathematics was far off from me, but the thesis of the book can be understood without it.
October 3, 2019
A little technical in places for those of us whose differential calculus is a little rusty, but still very readable. It all comes together nicely and the final section on application to psychiatry is intriguing. I would read this first, then Laszlo.
December 24, 2019
Una serie de artículos clásicos para entender la teoría general de los sistemas, especialmente desde el punto de vista histórico, ya que el libro fue publicado por primera vez en 1969 y sus referencias son muuuy clásicas.
December 31, 2019
Un gran libro. Muy interesante. Bertalanffy un gran pensador. Ideas concisas. Muy valiosas. La información que discute es relevante en los 70s y hasta ahora. Me ha gustado muchísimo este enfoque. Cualquiera que le guste la complejidad debe leerlo. Saludos!
February 26, 2018
useful knowledge about connectivity and relativism of every aspects of life..
August 6, 2019
Great to learn about open systems even if you aren't able to follow the math.
January 21, 2021
A classic of systems science. Covers a lot of ground. A bit dense, but that's unavoidable for he aims. You can't be fully informed in systems science without reading this.
December 25, 2023
Libro importante históricamente por ser del padre de la ingeniería de sistemas. Interesante conceptualmente aunque poco práctico. Los sistemas son más que la suma de sus partes.
February 15, 2024
I just feel like he's not saying anything. It's like reading Hayek. This is just flimsy babbling and the occasional Pythagorean posturing.
December 7, 2024
Clásico inevitable. Proposiciones hacia una teoría que revolucionó la sociedad.
December 31, 2024
Buena obra
Ps: ay mi cabeza
Ps: ay mi cabeza
April 10, 2025
The creation of a new field of science is never a smooth process. I recommend this book if you are interested in the history and origin of systems theory, not if you are interested in systems theory.
March 25, 2023
"General Systems Theory" is a non-fiction book written by Austrian biologist and systems theorist Ludwig von Bertalanffy, first published in 1968. The book is a foundational text in the field of systems theory, which seeks to understand the behavior of complex systems across multiple disciplines and levels of analysis.
Bertalanffy argues that traditional reductionist approaches to science, which focus on breaking complex phenomena down into their component parts, are insufficient for understanding the behavior of complex systems. He proposes a general systems theory as an alternative approach, which emphasizes the interrelationships and interactions among different components of a system.
Bertalanffy's writing style is characterized by its depth and complexity, and his arguments are grounded in extensive research and analysis. He offers a critique of traditional disciplinary boundaries in science, arguing that they hinder our ability to understand complex phenomena and develop effective solutions to social and environmental problems.
Overall, "General Systems Theory" is considered a classic work in the fields of systems theory and complexity science, and has had a significant influence on subsequent debates about the nature of complex systems and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to science and problem-solving. It remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the study of complex systems and their implications for our understanding of the world around us.
GPT
Bertalanffy argues that traditional reductionist approaches to science, which focus on breaking complex phenomena down into their component parts, are insufficient for understanding the behavior of complex systems. He proposes a general systems theory as an alternative approach, which emphasizes the interrelationships and interactions among different components of a system.
Bertalanffy's writing style is characterized by its depth and complexity, and his arguments are grounded in extensive research and analysis. He offers a critique of traditional disciplinary boundaries in science, arguing that they hinder our ability to understand complex phenomena and develop effective solutions to social and environmental problems.
Overall, "General Systems Theory" is considered a classic work in the fields of systems theory and complexity science, and has had a significant influence on subsequent debates about the nature of complex systems and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to science and problem-solving. It remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the study of complex systems and their implications for our understanding of the world around us.
GPT
November 4, 2014
Raccolta di saggi scritti lungo un arco di tempo piuttosto consistente. Essendo testi indipendenti riguardanti tutti lo stesso pugno di argomenti, tende nel complesso a essere molto ripetitivo: lo stesso concetto �� reintrodotto e rianalizzato pi�� e pi�� volte con variazioni dipendenti spesso solo dal "target" del saggio in questione.
Nondimeno almeno i primi saggi sono meritevoli per formarsi una panoramica delle prime fasi della teoria dei sistemi; l'ultimo, poi, �� un'eccellente manifesto di un sacrosanto "relativismo scientifico" che a distanza di decenni fatica ancora, purtroppo, ad affermarsi.
Nondimeno almeno i primi saggi sono meritevoli per formarsi una panoramica delle prime fasi della teoria dei sistemi; l'ultimo, poi, �� un'eccellente manifesto di un sacrosanto "relativismo scientifico" che a distanza di decenni fatica ancora, purtroppo, ad affermarsi.
October 4, 2014
This is a book about an original (at least when most of the material was written), yet somewhat fuzzy idea, at least well illustrated through what it is and what it is not. Many examples and interesting points will give you food for thought. It is repetitive sometimes, perhaps due to its original editing from articles. But it is well written and still up to date, although I believe many areas have been further developed, so the reader is adviced to look up the recent literature. In any case, the fundamental concepts are clearly stated and found in this book, written by one of the (or perhaps the) father(s) of general systems theory.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews