Systems Thinking: Feedback, Morphogenesis, and Complexity

Posted on Feb 6, 2025 in Other university degrees and diplomas

Systems Thinking

Feedback

Feedback occurs when a system’s outputs influence its inputs. This allows the system to control itself and make corrections based on the feedback received.

Negative feedback occurs when goals remain constant, but behavior or actions change over time.

Positive feedback occurs when behavior or actions remain constant, but goals are modified.

Divergent Systems

Divergent systems, also known as morphogenesis, exhibit positive feedback amplification.

Morphogenesis

Complex systems can create or modify their forms to remain viable. Morphogenesis focuses on development, growth, and changes in form, structure, and system status. Examples include differentiation, specialization, and learning.

Divergent Systems – Correction

Divergent systems with negative feedback between elements are called morphostasis.

Morphostasis

Morphostasis involves exchanges with the environment that preserve or maintain a system’s shape, organization, or state. These processes are characteristic of living systems.

Closed-Circuit Systems with Amplification

In a closed-circuit system with amplification, a small change in input can activate various energy sources, producing a significantly different output.

Control Subsystem Components

  • Variable Attribute: A characteristic to evaluate or control within specific limits (e.g., car speed).
  • Sensing Mechanisms: Control mechanisms sensitive to the quality being controlled (e.g., speedometer, eyesight, brain function).
  • Effectors: Trigger the balancing mechanism or take action (e.g., applying brakes).
  • Power Source: The minimum input needed for the balancing mechanism to function (e.g., body energy to move the foot).

Descartes’ Method

  1. Every claim must be clear, distinct, and evidence-based. Otherwise, it is false.
  2. Decompose every problem into its simplest parts (simple natures).
  3. Seek solutions, starting from simple natures and progressing to more complex ones.
  4. List and review to prevent errors from carelessness or overlooked data.

Techniques for Pursuing Knowledge

  • Analysis: Dividing the object of study into parts.
  • Deduction: Combining simple natures based on similarities to draw general conclusions.
  • Induction: Applying deductive knowledge to other realities, but avoiding immutable truths.

Paradigms

A paradigm is a set of rules and prejudices that shape our view of reality. Information that doesn’t fit established prejudices may be discarded or distorted.

Reductionism

Reductionism views the universe as static, lifeless, and predictable, creating an illusion of finding root causes for everyday events. This is deterministic reductionist thinking.

Complexity

Complexity refers to the many options offered by the environment in each event.

Entropy: Represents the constant energy loss in clusters (sets of items with weak internal and external interaction) leading to their destruction.