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This chapter presents an overview of prospective new conceptual categories expected to characterize the new or second-generation systemics. We refuse here to call it systemics 2.0 (Minati, 2016; Minati, Abram, & Pessa, 2016) even though GOFS, or systemics 1.0, had several releases, as mentioned in Sect. 1.1, including the theory of dynamical systems, automata theory, control theory, cybernetics, games theory and system dynamics.

Starting from the last years of the past century, the number of papers and books using, within the most different scientific domains, the networks as the main conceptual tool undergo a fast growth. This circumstance allowed the introduction of the generic name of network science (see, for instance, Barabasi & Posfai, 2016; Lewis, 2009a) to denote a number of contributions having in common the fact of using the mathematical machinery of graph theory as well as of its consequences. The interest in the network science was justified by the fact that its methods allowed to obtain new and interesting results regarding collective systems.As well known, this expression denotes systems made by a large number of reciprocally interacting basic units, whose study is often very difficult by resorting to traditional mathematical tools. Despite that, the tools of network science allowed, since the first papers, not only to characterize the possible dynamical evolution of some kinds of collective systems but also to forecast in advance their survival ability in the presence of damages and their usefulness as supporters of information transmission.

This research project proposes the modeling of collective behaviors such as flocks, industrial districts, and markets. Unlike many other approaches, the aim is to identify ways to recognize, change, and maintain the coherence of collective behaviors, as well as inducing their emergence in configurations of elements that only interact without acquiring properties. The basic assumption is that currently collective behavior is not adequately modeled for the purpose described above when intended as given by sequences of states adopted by the same system over time. Here the sequence of states of a collective behavior in time is considered as corresponding to sequences of different states adopted by systems made up of the same elements interacting with different structures. Sequences of structures are considered to establish meta-structures and their properties correspond to the coherence acquired. The project is based on the use of mesoscopic variables to represent such structural dynamics considered in turn t...

The aim of this editorial is to briefly introduce some papers of different nature presented by the contributors to the special issue on “Second Generation General System Theory”. These contributions have been focused on the need for building a post-Bertalanffy Systemics, based on new problems, representations, and approaches to complexity. Furthermore, such new Systemics is expected to be able to theoretically generalize new related systemic concepts and approaches introduced by different disciplines. Such a theoretical generalization is going to coincide with a new kind of interdisciplinarity. The latter should substitute the classical one, based on considering problems and solutions within a discipline as equivalent to problems and solutions within another one. This equivalence was used within the framework of general systemic concepts like Anticipation, Completeness, Feedback, Finality, Forecast, Separability, Openness, and Reversibility. The contributions contained in this special issue constitute very interesting examples of new approaches and of their possibilities of theoretical generalization. Therefore, the issue itself can be considered as a window on the new Systemics and its challenges.

This article introduces the concepts of System, Autonomous System, Intelligent System, Multiple System, and Collective Being. It deals with issues related to managing these different levels of systemic aggregation. The author then discusses applications related to Architecture and design with particular reference to cities.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe fundamental concepts and theoretical challenges with regard to systems, and to build on these in proposing new theoretical frameworks relevant to learning, for example in so‐called learning organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on some crucial fundamental aspects introduced in the literature in order to establish a general rather than generic usage of the systems concept. Issues of definition and theoretical frameworks are clarified before introducing new theoretical challenges for Systems Thinking, such as the perspective of a General Theory of Emergence (GTE), new modelling approaches and new concepts including Multiple Systems (MSs) and Collective Beings (CBs).FindingsNew approaches for modelling management and corporate learning are described. The paper also explains the Dynamical Usage of Models (DYSAM) developed to deal with MSs and CBs for managing learning systems able to self‐design evolutionary strategies.Originality/valueThe paper expands understanding of the notion of system and underlines the relevance of systems thinking in modelling and facilitating corporate learning.

In this article we present lists of concepts and approaches both of Bertalanffy’s pre-complexity General System Theory (GST) and of post-Bertalanffy Systemics dealing with complexity. We also list examples of phenomena showing such complexity and sources or generators of complexity with special regard to social systems. Such lists should be considered as a list of contents for further, more exhaustive, possibly contradictory, studies as outlined in the conclusions.

This article discusses implicit assumptions in the conference theme to understand the complexity involved in trying to gain control of globalization, in particular: (1) We, (2) being in control (not only in cybernetic way) and (3) globalization. I introduce distinctions between single conscious agents, systems of conscious agents, and emergent we, as a collective entity understood as a Collective Being (a complex, multidimensional society to be studied with multiple, systemic knowledge) that has collective consciousness. The focus is the issue of being in control. This issue is understood as the ability to design and manage emergent processes of development.

Repeatedly, in Western democracies, sophisticated marketing techniques are used to manipulate consensus. In this context, "free" markets are interesting only because they contain potential buyers and it is possible to buy consensus. In many European countries (e.g., Italy), in Italy, for example, political scientists apply marketing techniques (advertising, psychological effects) to get (i.e., to buy) political consensus. They work on the premise that the decision to buy a product and the decision to vote for a candidate are equivalent. Their interest is not in convincing, but in shaping an expedient cognitive model.

From General Systems Theory, the open systems concept is re-examined introducing a hierarchy based on context, modeling communication and meta relation, and the concept of kinds of openness. A hierarchy is proposed in one kind of openness: logical. Logical openness is described and a dialectical, dynamic view is proposed in place of the static view. A system fluctuates in time between closed and open. The ability to decide is at the upper level of the hierarchy of openness, which we term the reflexive level. The levels of the hierarchy are discussed.

In this paper, after recalling some fundamental concepts used in the science of complexity, we focus on theoretical and applicative cases of interest for the science of management of complex systems, where processes of emergence occur with the acquisition of new properties. The tool proposed is the DYnamical uSAge of Models (DYSAM). Within this framework we then focus upon a) the theoretical difference between growth and development; b) the sustainability of development rather than of growth as originally introduced in the literature; c) the concept of long tail (when, after initial large volume sales, low-revenue and infrequent buying may become a very important percentage of the entire business) as in telecommunications and management of long-tailed systems; d) non-reductionist management of complexity not reduced to solutions, and e) a future line of research to model processes of emergence.

In this paper we consider the correspondence between the centrality of the role of the observer for the concepts of probability and emergence. We base our considerations on the fundamental insight of the Italian mathematician Bruno de Finetti who introduced the concept of probability of an event as the observer’s degree of belief. This correspondence is very important for dealing with modern problems of uncertainty related to chaos and complexity and to the modelling emergence.

Classic approaches consider errors and mistakes related to inadequate usage or functioning of physical or logical devices. They are usually considered problems to be fixed, like in engineering the ones related to reliability and availability. Mistake making processes or machines are assumed to be repaired. Another phase has been established when considering the role of the observer and the introduction of uncertainty principles. It is then possible to consider processes, at a certain level of description, as observer-related mistake making machines. We discuss the topic related to the possibility to design a mistake making device as a problem having correspondences with designing emergence. Emergence may be considered as a possible error appearing in Mistake Making Processes. We introduce the possibility to design an intrinsically (non observer-related) mistake making device, which has been proposed to be named Spartacus. This project is proposed with reference to the dissipative quantum model of brain. Another approach may be the one related to chaotic neural network designing, introduced in literature as Creativity Machine.

In the history of western democracies, now degenerating into post-democracies, it is possible to identify a first phase during which aspirant leadership has been attempting to influence and involve people, by forcing masses to do something, to believe something, rather than by getting consent. The second phase relates to democracies where aspirant leadership must get consent thorough formal elections. The mass dimension is not related anymore to involvement, but to getting formal consent. Manipulating social techniques, based on sophisticated research in cognitive science and applied by using the mass-media, have been and are used for marketing exploiting knowledge of complex human behavior in order to turn individuals into customers. Similar technologies are used for to influence people to buy a political offer and leadership. The mass dimension is not anymore a warranty of democracy, but rather the basis for applying marketing techniques that make consent buyable. Democratic societies became degenerated post-democratic societies. The most significant aspect of such manipulating techniques is the manipulation and control of language used by applying approaches based on cognitive science. Some of those approaches are introduced. The purpose of this contribution is to focus on how the systems community may make people aware of the manipulating processes and able to recognize them, with special reference to language. The possibility to make consent buyable may be the end of the classic idea of democracy and this must be taken in count when dealing with so-called emergent social systems, often assumed to be non-democratic by western societies.

General Systems Theory produced many cultural and scientific results and approaches based on some fundamental aspects like the interaction between components, distinguished from relation. Inter-disciplinarity is introduced as the disciplinary study of systemic properties. Trans-disciplinarity is introduced as the study of systemic properties in general and of relationships among them. Finally Systemics is introduced as cultural generalization of the principles contained in the General Systems Theory. In reference to many new scientific disciplinary results we introduce the need to update the concepts and models of Systemics. We introduce a short review of those results, like Collective Phenomena; Phase Transitions in physics; Dynamical Usage of Models (DYSAM); Multiple systems, emerging from the same elements, but having simultaneous different interactions among them; Uncertainty Principles; Laws of scaling; Modelling emergence; Systemic meaning of new theorizations like Quantum Field Theories (QFT) in physics with related applications in biology, in studying the brain, consciousness, and in dealing with long-range correlations. The study of emergence undertaken in many disciplinary fields, like Physics, Biology, Artificial Life, Information Technology and Economics, has been realized focusing on the web of fundamental problems of General Systems Theory like the transition between non-systemic and systemic phases. The problem of modelling emergence relates to modelling processes of interaction between components and the observer. Dealing with those new problems and results calls for new theoretical approaches for Systemics. The change is expected to be so innovative to name this process with particular reference to emergence: Systemics of emergence or Second Systemics. We stress the need that the systems community, honouring its tradition and mission, be active part and leads this process, while at the present the most important research activities on Systemics seem to take place disciplinarily, out from the system community.

We introduce a proposal for a theoretical, systemic definition of the concept of process, based on the constructivistic role of the observer and the level of description. We mention in this regard the concept of reductionism and some misunderstandings still present in the systemic movement about humanism and the scientific approach. By considering the active role of the observer we then consider Time as a Social Construction. In this framework we consider the difference between cyclic and non-cyclic time as defined by cyclic and non-cyclic processes. This difference has very important consequences when dealing with social systems. Assumption of behaving in cycles or not affect tremendously life of human beings by inducing systemic closeness or openness. Making people to assume living cyclic time has important role in social control and manipulation. We introduced two short examples referred to Architecture and designing social systems., The original publication is available at JAIST Press http://www.jaist.ac.jp/library/jaist-press/index.html, IFSR 2005 : Proceedings of the First World Congress of the International Federation for Systems Research : The New Roles of Systems Sciences For a Knowledge-based Society : Nov. 14-17, 2139, Kobe, Japan, Symposium 6, Session 6 : Vision of Knowledge Civilization Society and Knowledge

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to make evident the inadequateness of concepts and language based on industrial knowledge still used in current practices by managers to cope with problems of the post‐industrial societies characterised by non‐linear process of emergence and acquisition of properties. The purpose is to allow management to use language and concepts more appropriate to deal with complexity, i.e. to represent, induce and orient processes of chance, and second, to outline a theory of practice guiding their efforts. The purpose is also to underline the urgency of a new general management education.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on contrasting concepts and their linguistic representations of the industrial age to the related post‐industrial ones. The approach is based on representing processes by using a more appropriate language, cultural aspect of science of complexity, able to deal with processes of emergence.FindingsSuitable, appropriate and open linguistic representations allow effective management of complex social systems where processes of emergence, i.e. acquisition of properties, occur. Current educational process for managers should be rethought. Learning relates to design new suitable models.Research limitations/implicationsOne limit of this approach is given by the fact that it is not easy to implement, it cannot be considered a tool and imbalances are inevitable due to differences and inhomogeneous assumption of this new thinking.Practical implicationsIt is a potential guide in helping practitioners in recognizing, inducing and managing complexity of processes and change.Originality/valueThe paper presents a new way to recognise and see reciprocal‐relational forces within a cultural‐social‐political context by using suitable translations of concepts and approaches introduced in science of complexity, such as in physics, mathematics, biology, and chemistry.

Usually a (dynamic or non dynamic) model1 is formulated to understand, simulate, manage, forecast the behavior of a system or phenomena of different kinds (i.e. physical, biological, chemical, social). The models are formulated on the basis of theoretical assumptions, for instance suitable to be used to produce software models and mathematical descriptions.

This paper refers to Cognitive Science (Benjafield, 1992) and Systems Theory (Minati, 1998b). The general topic is the ability for a system to use in different ways resources, totally or partially, non or no more available as expected by the system (for instance the ability to move, which is to walk for people having good availability of natural resources presumed to be used for that purpose and to use different resources in total or partial substitution of the unavailable ones. Related systemic topics in other domains as control and signal theory, cybernetic devices, computer science, dynamics, etc., where the subjects of balancing and compensating (introduced below) are of great interest, are not subjects of this contribution even if some common meaning and analogies may be identified. The focus in on the information processing capabilities of the system to manage processes of balancing and compensating. Focus is on living systems supposed, at certain levels of complexity, provided with cognitive system, acting with cognitive models, cognitive resources and cognitive architectures. Systems provided with simulated Cognitive Systems may also be of great interest such as in robotics when some physical damages occur and they may be dealt with by processes of balancing and compensating.

Opening Lecture. Synergetics - An Overview H. Haken. Modelling. First Cellular Automata Model of Red Mullet Behaviour F. Badalamenti, et al. Simulations of Forest Fires by Cellular Automata Modelling E. Bendicenti, et al. The Dynamic Usage of Models (DYSAM) G. Minati, S. Brahms. Cognitive Science. The Emergence of Strategies in Cognitive Development M.P. Penna. Emergence of the Symbolic Function G. Terenzi. Synaptic Development as a Variational Problem P. Camiz. Theoretical Issues in Systemics. Emergence and Ergodicity: A Line of Research G. Minati. Decomposition of Systems M.R. Abram. Generic Properties of Complex Networks R. Serra. The Role of Stability Theory in the Great Theories of the XX Century U. Di Caprio. A Generalization of Compensation Mechanism in Variable-Structure Systems. E.Pessa, G. Resconi. Education. A Systemic Proposal on the Use of a New Technology as a Learning Tool in School Context M.P. Penna, et al. A System Approach to the Educational Research: Reflection on an Experience A. Codetta Raiteri, R. Cambini. Evaluating an Educational Course. A Constructivist Approach R. Cambini, A. Codetta Raiteri. Systemic Approach and Information Technology. Reactive Navigation Based on Self-Organised Visual Information G. Tascini, et al. Web Usability: Meaning and Context. Over Data Structures M.C. Tofoni, A. Montesanto. Membrane Systems for Computing G. Mauri, C. Zandron. General Systems. Transforming Leadership through Coalitions: Building the Ethics of Sustainable Development in Globalization L.A. Magliocca, G. Minati. Meaning Extraction from the Analysis of Video-Registrations of Human Movements M.P. Penna, et al. Multidisciplinary Techniques for Classifying Styles in Narrative Texts: a Preliminary Study M. Nardon, et al. The Religious Aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the West Bank: Systemic Implications S. Brahms. Disciplinarity in the Pursuit of Knowledge A. Collen. Management. Distributed Knowledge Management. A Systemic Approach M. Bonifacio, P. Bouquet. The Role of Knowledge Management as a Key Tool for Companies to deal with the Turbulent Environment: A Survey P. Penna, et al. Systemic Approaches to Human Care. Balancing and Compensating Equilibrium Deficits in Beings Provided with Cognitive Processing Capabilities G. Minati, A. Ricciuti. Emergence, Individuality, Therapy.A Systemic Vision of Homeopathy M. Trionfi. Systemic Support Therapy for Cancer Patients During and After Chemotherapy A. Ricciuti A Systemic Approach to the Modelling of Epileptic Phenomena P.L. Bandinelli, et al. Synergetics and Systemics. Some Comments about Determinism and Classical Physics L. Galgani. What is Emergence? E. Pessa . Quantum Field Theory and System Theory G. Vitello. Index.

This working paper is a contribution to the discussion on emergence based on research topics debated in the international scientific community and introduced in the Italian Systems Society by Pessa and Minati with the notes presented during meetings and available in the AIRS’s web page (Pessa, 2001).

One of the most important problems to be dealt with when studying organizations and social systems concerns the individuation of their inner structural relationships. These latter appear as particularly difficult to describe when we are in the presence of evolutionary changes, such as the ones which give rise to the emergence of new macroscopic relational structures. This is the case, for instance, when we study growth or crisis phases within business companies, or merging processes between them.

A list of practical rules for companies and banks is proposed in order to identify and measure ethics. A service named Ethical Quality Measurement (EQM) is proposed. Important references with some activities of the European Economic Community (EEC) in defining the ECOLABEL and ECOAUDIT programs are identified. A very important reference to the research activity about the concept of ‘logical openness’ in General Systems Theory (GST) is identified and a parallel with the research on semantic processing in artificial intelligence is proposed.

This paper explores openness—and a central concept in the theory of human activity systems—and applies this concept to the design of educational systems. After describing a hierarchy which includes five levels of openness, the authors present an argument for more open models of education which are necessary to match the complexities of contemporary life.

In this paper we propose a theory of logically open systems. These latter coincide with systems in metastable equilibrium with the environment, in which the system-environment interaction cannot be described, as a principle, without taking into account the inner state of the systems themselves. We introduce a particular hierarchy of these systems and we prove some results relative to the limitations encountered when dealing with them. We derive an undescribability principle which applies to logically open systems at the top of this hierarchy. Besides, we suggest a strategy for coping with these limitations and we sketch some possible applications of our theory to concrete cases. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Networks are often used to represent the relations among the variables of a dynamical system. The properties of network topology are usually exploited to understand the organization of the system. Nevertheless, the dynamical organization of a system might considerably differ from its topological one. In this paper, we describe a method to identify “relevant subsets” of variables. The variables belonging to a relevant subset should be strongly integrated and should have a much weaker interaction with the other system variables. Extending previous works on neural networks, an information-theoretic measure is introduced, i.e., the Dynamical Cluster Index, in order to identify candidate relevant subsets. The method solely relies on observations of the variables’ values in time.