Definition
The phrase “General Systems” does not correspond to a widely recognized, standalone concept in scholarly literature. It is occasionally used informally to refer to the broad study of systems across multiple disciplines, or as a shorthand for “General Systems Theory,” but no distinct, universally accepted definition exists for the term by itself.
Overview
When the term appears, it is typically employed in contexts that emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing structures, processes, and relationships that can be modeled as systems. Authors may use “General Systems” to denote a collection of principles or frameworks that apply to a variety of system types—biological, mechanical, social, or computational—without restricting the discussion to a specific domain. Because the usage is informal and context‑dependent, there is no single, consolidated body of literature dedicated solely to “General Systems.”
Etymology/Origin
The expression combines the adjective “general,” meaning applicable to many cases or not limited to a particular instance, with the noun “systems,” which derives from the Latin systēma (via Greek systēma, “a whole compounded of several parts”). The pairing likely emerged in the mid‑20th century alongside the rise of interdisciplinary studies of complex phenomena, paralleling the development of General Systems Theory introduced by Ludwig von Bertalanffy.
Characteristics
Given the lack of a formal definition, any characteristics attributed to “General Systems” are inferred from related concepts:
- Interdisciplinarity – Emphasizes applicability across scientific, engineering, social, and philosophical domains.
- Abstraction – Focuses on high‑level patterns and principles rather than domain‑specific details.
- Holistic Perspective – Considers the interdependence of components within a larger whole.
- Model‑Centric – Often involves the development of formal models (e.g., mathematical, computational) to describe system behavior.
These traits are commonly associated with General Systems Theory; whether they accurately describe the phrase “General Systems” depends on the author’s intended usage.
Related Topics
- General Systems Theory – A formal interdisciplinary framework for studying systems in a universal manner.
- Systems Science – The broader field encompassing the study of complex systems across disciplines.
- Cybernetics – The study of control and communication in animals, machines, and organizations.
- Complex Systems – Research on systems with many interacting components that exhibit emergent behavior.
Accurate information is not confirmed regarding a distinct, formally defined concept named “General Systems” beyond its informal or shorthand usage.