Open and Closed Systems in Living Organisms: A Glossary of Terms
Equifinality
Refers to the fact that a living system, from different initial conditions and by different routes, can reach the same final state. The order refers to the maintenance of a steady state flux. “You can achieve the same final state, the same goal, starting from different initial conditions and following different paths in organismic processes” (von Bertalanffy. 1976:137).
The reverse process is called multifinality, i.e., “similar initial conditions can lead to different final states” (Buckley. 1970:98).
Balance
The states of equilibrium systems can be achieved in open systems by different roads; this is called equifinality and multifinality. The maintenance of equilibrium in open systems necessarily involves importing resources from the environment. These resources may include energy flows, material, or information.
Emergence
This concept refers to the decomposition of systems into smaller units, advanced to the limit at which a new level of emergence arises for another system qualitatively different. E. Morin (Arnold. 1989) noted that the emergence of a system indicates the possession of qualities and attributes based on the individual parts and, on the other hand, the elements or parts of a system update properties and qualities that are only possible in the context of a given system. This means that the inherent properties of the systemic components cannot explain its emergence.
Function
It is called the output function of a system that is aimed at maintaining the larger system in which it is enrolled.
Homeostasis
This concept is primarily concerned with living organisms as adaptive systems. Homeostatic processes operate to changes in environmental conditions, correspond to the internal compensation system that replaced, blocks, or complements these changes to maintain the systemic structure invariant, i.e., towards the conservation of their shape. The maintenance of dynamic forms or paths is called homeorhesis (cybernetic systems).
Input/Output
The concepts of input and output instrument approaches to the problem of borders and boundaries in open systems. It is said that systems are operating under this type of ticket processors and outlets processors.
Input
Any open system requires resources from its environment. Input is called importing resources (energy, matter, information) required to start the cycle of system activities.
Output
This name is given to the current output of a system. The outputs may differ depending on your destination services, functions, and retroinputs.
Process
The process transforms an input into output, such as a machine, an individual, a computer, a chemical, a task performed by a member of the organization, etc. In transforming inputs into outputs, one must always know that transformation occurs. Often the processor can be designed by the administrator. In this case, this process is called a “white box”. However, in most situations, the process by which inputs are transformed into outputs is unknown in detail because this transformation is too complex. Different combinations of tickets or their combination in different orders of sequence can lead to different output situations. In this case, the function is called a “black box.”
Black Box
The black box is used to represent systems as they do not know what items or things make the system or process. Still, we know that certain outputs are determined and thus able to induce, assuming that certain stimuli, variables operate in the sense.
Morphogenesis
Complex systems (human, social, and cultural) are characterized by their ability to develop or modify their forms to remain viable (positive feedback). These processes aim at the development, growth, or change in shape, structure, and system status. Examples are the processes of differentiation, specialization, learning, and others. In cybernetic terms, the mutual causal processes (circularity) that increase are called morphogenetic deviation. These processes activate and enhance the possibility of adapting systems to changing environments.
Morphostasis
These are the exchange processes with the environment that tend to preserve or maintain a shape, an organization, or a given state of a system (balance, homeostasis, negative feedback). Processes of this type are characteristic of living systems. In a cybernetics perspective, morphogenesis brings us back to the mutual causal processes that reduce or control the variances.
Negentropy
Living systems can maintain unlikely organization states (entropy). This seemingly contradictory phenomenon is because open systems can import extra energy to maintain stable states of organization and even develop higher levels of improbability. Negentropy then refers to the energy that the matter of the environment uses to remain organized and survive (Johannsen. 1975).
Recursion
A process refers to introducing the results of a system’s operations into itself (feedback).
Feedback
These processes allow an open system to collect information on the impact of domestic decisions in the middle, acting on information decisions (actions) in succession. Feedback may be negative (when the main control) or positive (when raw amplification of deviations). Through feedback mechanisms, systems regulate their behaviors according to their actual effects rather than fixed output programs. In complex systems, both types of flows are combined (circularity, homeostasis).
Negative Feedback
This concept is associated with self-regulatory or homeostatic processes. Negative feedback systems are characterized by maintaining certain objectives. In mechanical systems, the objectives are installed by an external system (man or another machine).
Positive Feedback
Indicates a closed chain of causal relationships where the variation of one component propagates to other components of the system, reinforcing the initial change and encouraging behavior characterized by self-reinforcement of variations (circularity, morphogenesis). Positive feedback is associated with growth and differentiation phenomena. When a system is maintained and modifies its goals/purposes, we have a case of positive feedback. In these cases, the deviation-amplification relationship applies (Mayurama. 1963).
Retroinput
Refers to the system outputs directed to the same system (feedback). In human and social systems, they correspond to the processes of self-reflection.
Services
These are the outputs of a system that will serve as inputs to other equivalent systems or subsystems.
Open Systems
These systems import and process elements (energy, matter, information) from their environments, a characteristic of all living systems. That a system is open means that states exchange with its environment, determining its trade balance, reproductive ability or continuity, i.e., its viability (negative entropy, teleology, morphogenesis, equifinality).
Closed System
A system is closed when nothing goes outside, and none comes out of the system. They reach their maximum state of balance by matching the environment (entropy, equilibrium). Sometimes the term closed system is also applied to systems that behave fixedly or without rhythmic variations, as in closed loops.
Cybernetic System
These devices have internal complacency (self), which responds to reports of environmental changes, producing variable responses that contribute to achieving the objectives installed in the system (feedback homeorhesis).