(with Alex J Ryan, JJ Kay, Gerald Weinberg and Warren Weaver)
These sources examine the transition from traditional scientific eductionism toward general systems thinking to navigate the inherent complexity of the modern world. Authors highlight how classical physics often fails to account for emergent properties and the dynamic interactions found in living ecosystems and human societies. Through the lens of cybernetics, the texts explore how self-organising systems maintain stability and adapt to their environments using feedback loops and requisite variety. This theoretical foundation is applied to systemic design, where practitioners use holistic modeling and circular economy principles to address “wicked problems” in policy and sustainability. Ultimately, the collection advocates for an integrated approach that bridges the gap between quantitative computational models and qualitative design practices to better manage the interconnected nature of reality.
Sources
• About Teaching Systems Thinking, James J. Kay & Jason A. Foster (1999).[1] • An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, Gerald M. Weinberg (1975/2011). ISBN: 978-0-932633-49-1.[2] • Ross Ashby’s general theory of adaptive systems, Stuart A. Umpleby (2009). DOI: 10.1080/03081070802601509. Link: ResearchGate.[3] • Complexity and Chaos - State-of-the-Art; Formulations and Measures of Complexity, Mario Couture (2007). Technical Note: DRDC Valcartier TN 2006-451.[4] • Ecosystems as Self-organizing Holarchic Open Systems: Narratives and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, James J. Kay (2000).[5] • Complexity: a Definition by Construction of a Conceptual Framework, R. L. Flood (1987).[6] • From Systems to Organisations, MaurĂcio V. Kritz (2017). DOI: 10.3390/systems5010023. Link: MDPI.[7] • What is a complex system?, James Ladyman, James Lambert, & Karoline Wiesner (2013). DOI: 10.1007/s13194-012-0056-8.[8] • A Framework for Systemic Design, Alex J. Ryan (2014). DOI: 10.7577/formakademisk.787. Link: FORMakademisk.[9] • Applications of Complex Systems to Operational Design, Alex J. Ryan.[10] • Emergence is Coupled to Scope not Level, Alex J. Ryan (2007).[11] • A Multidisciplinary Approach to Complex Systems Design, Alex Ryan (2007). PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide.[12] • What is a Systems Approach?, Alex Ryan.[13] • Warren Weaver’s “Science and complexity” revisited, Rudolf Seising (2012). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-24672-2_3. Link: ResearchGate.[14] • Science and complexity, Warren Weaver (1948). Originally in American Scientist 36: 536-544.[15] • The Imperfections of Science, Warren Weaver (1960). Link: JSTOR.[16] • The Emerging Unity of Science, Warren Weaver.[17] • The Mathematics of Communication, Warren Weaver (1949).[18] • An Introduction to Cybernetics, W. Ross Ashby (1956). ISBN: 978-1-61427-765-1.[19] • Design for a Brain: The origin of adaptive behaviour, W. Ross Ashby (1960). ISBN: 978-0-412-20090-8. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-015-1320-3.[20] • Every Thing Must Go: Metaphysics Naturalized, James Ladyman and Don Ross (2007). ISBN: 978-0-19-927619-6.[21] • What Is a Complex System?, James Ladyman and Karoline Wiesner (2020). ISBN: 978-0-300-25110-4.[22] • Relating Systems Thinking and Design 7th Symposium: Book of Abstracts, Silvia Barbero, Ed. (2018). ISBN: 978-88-85745-24-7.[23] • Measuring complexity, Karoline Wiesner and James Ladyman (2020).[24]