An Introduction to General Systems Thinking Quotes

“If you cannot think of three ways of abusing a tool, you do not understand how to use it. Faithful”
― Gerald M. Weinberg, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking

“Separation of function is not to be despised, but neither should it be exalted. Separation is not an unbreakable law, but a convenience for overcoming inadequate human abilities, whether in science or engineering. As D'Arcy Thompson, one of the spiritual fathers of the general systems movement, said: As we analyze a thing into its parts or into its properties, we tend to magnify these, to exaggerate their apparent independence, and to hide from ourselves (at least for a time) the essential integrity and individuality of the composite whole. We divided the body into its organs, the skeleton into its bones, as in very much the same fashion we make a subjective analysis of the mind, according to the teaching of psychology, into component factors: but we know very well that judgement and knowledge, courage or gentleness, love or fear, have no separate existence, but are somehow mere manifestations, or imaginary coefficients, of a most complex integral.10 The”
― Gerald M. Weinberg, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking

“Although technology often leads science in discovery, the philosophy of technology is usually drawn from the scientific philosophy of its time. In our time, the technology of machines has drawn its inspiration from mechanics, dealing with complexity by reducing the number of relevant parts. The technology of government, on the other hand, has drawn upon statistical mechanics, creating simplicity by dealing only with people in the structureless mass, as interchangeable units, and taking averages.”
― Gerald M. Weinberg, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking

“It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so. - Will Rogers The”
― Gerald M. Weinberg, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking