Towards a Post-Bertalanffy Systemics (eBook)

Gianfranco Minati, Mathematician, Founder and president of the Italian Systems Society (AIRS); Doctoral lecturer at the Polytechnic of Milan; Member of the scientific committee of Conferences and Systems Societies. He is author of 32 chapters in books; editor of 7 books and journals; author or co-author of 15 books; author of 30 articles and of academic publications. His current research interest focuses on 1) Modelling processes of emergence by using Meta-Structures; 2) the emerging of a post-Bertalanffy Systemics; 3) the Dynamic Usage of Models (DYSAM), Logical Openness; 4) Architecture and Design as the design of social meta-structures to influence processes of emergence in social systems.Mario R. Abram, Physicist, is an active member of the Italian Systems Society (AIRS). He worked mainly in ENEL (Italian Power Agency), at Research Department (Automatica Research Center), then in Cesi S.p.A. and Cesi Ricerca S.p.A. He experienced hybrid and digital simulation systems, working on models of power systems, thermoelectric and nuclear power plants and processes control. He participated in the building of real-time simulators for thermoelectric power plants and their application to control systems testing and tuning, in the development of supervision and control systems for power testing facilities and distribution networks. Also he worked on the application of neural networks to power systems supervision and investigated safety conditions in interactions between infrastructures. He authored several publications in systems science.  His research interests include: dynamical systems, modelling and simulation of processes and interactions between infrastructural networks.  Eliano Pessa, Theoretical Physicist, is actually Full Professor of General Psychology and Cognitive Modeling at the University of Pavia, Italy. He has already been Dean of the Department of Psychology and of the Inter-departmental Research Center on Cognitive Science in the same university. In the past he has been Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Faculty of Psychology. He is author or co-author of 10 books and of a large number of papers on scientific journals, books, proceedings of international conferences. His scientific research interests include: quantum theories of brain operation, computational neuroscience, artificial neural networks, models of emergence processes, quantum field theory, models of phase transitions in condensed matter, models of human memory and visual perception, models of decision making, models of statistical reasoning. 

Preface 6
Contents 12
Editor Biography 20
Scientific Committee 22
List of Contributors 24
Acknowledgements 10
Part I Opening Lecture 29
1 Quantum Effects in Linguistic Endeavors 30
1 A Methodological Premise 30
2 Two Separate Cognitive Processes 31
3 Perceptions vs Linguistic Processes 35
4 A Novel Aspect of Quantum Behavior 36
5 Conclusions 38
References 39
Part II Studies of the Emergence: Models and Simulations 41
2 Cross-Frequency Modulation, Network Information Integration and Cognitive Performance in Complex Systems 42
1 The Systemic Approach to the Study of Brain Activity 42
2 The Cross-Frequency Modulation 43
3 An Experimental Study of CfM 44
4 Behavioral Data 45
5 Brain Areas Involved in the Event RelatedResponse to CSP 46
6 Correlation Study About CfM Effect Relationship with Neurophysiology and Task Performance 46
7 Modulation Delay (Phase Angle) 46
8 Number of Brain Resources Involved (Dipole Residual Variance) 48
9 Activation of Salience Network (Event Related Modulation Index and N1-P2-N2 Triplet) 49
10 Error State Management (Non Event Related Modulation Index and Ne) 49
11 Considerations About Experimental Data 50
12 Computer Simulations 51
13 Conclusions 53
References 54
3 Testing Different Learning Strategies on a Simple Connectionist Model of Numerical Fact Retrieval 56
1 Number Representation 56
1.1 Number Encoding Schemes 57
1.2 Numerosity Coding: Simulations 57
2 Finger Counting and Arithmetic Development 58
2.1 Algorithmic Features of the Finger Counting Routine 59
2.2 Net Description and Experiments 59
2.3 Discussion 63
3 Conclusions and Further Developments 63
References 64
4 Dynamical Systems and Automata 66
1 Introduction 66
2 Dynamical Systems 67
3 State Space Partition 67
4 Associated Automata 68
5 An Example 69
6 Remarks 73
7 Conclusions 74
References 75
Part III The Contribution of Physics to a New General Theory of Systems 76
5 Towards the Study of New Nuclear Energies 77
1 Introduction 77
2 Dynamical Structure of a Deuteron 77
3 The Meaning of the Electromagnetic Energy (Binding Energy) 81
4 The Spin and the Electric Charge 83
5 Chain Nuclear Reaction 84
6 The Center of Mass 85
7 Remark 86
8 Conclusions 86
References 88
6 Decomposing Dynamical Systems 89
1 Introduction 89
2 Dynamical Systems on Monoids 91
3 Subspaces and Subsystems 92
4 Past and Future 94
5 Constituent Subspaces and the Decomposition Theorem 94
6 Constituent Subsystems 100
7 Composition of Disjoint Dynamical Systems 101
8 The Composition Theorem 102
References 103
7 For a Topology of Dynamical Systems 104
1 Introduction 104
2 Outward Topologies 105
3 Dynamical Topologies 108
4 Conclusion 110
References 110
Part IV New Systemic Contents of Disciplinary Approaches and Problems 111
8 EPAS: Artificial Intelligent System for Assistance 112
1 Introduction 112
2 Complex Intelligent Systems 112
3 EPAS 114
References 116
9 From Systemic Complexity to Systemic Simplicity: A New Networking Node Approach 118
1 Introduction 118
2 Achieving Systemic Resilience and Antifragility 119
3 Articulated Interaction by Recursive InformationAggregation 120
3.1 The Root of Systemic Networking Articulation 120
3.2 System Output Information Anticipation 122
4 Open Logic and Closed Logic Subsystem 123
5 VEDA Simulation Environment 124
6 Summary and Conclusion 126
References 128
10 Formal Concept Analysis in Statistical Hypothesis Testing 130
1 Introduction 130
2 Methods 132
2.1 Sample and Procedure 132
2.2 Analysis 133
3 Results 134
4 Discussion 136
References 136
11 Emergence in Neural Network Models of Cognitive Processing 138
1 Introduction 138
2 The Role of Experimental Data 139
3 The Design of a NN Model Derived from the Data 140
4 The Building of the NN Model 141
5 A Case Study 142
6 Conclusions 146
References 147
12 Beyond Networks: Search for Relevant Subsets in Complex Systems 148
1 Introduction 148
2 The Dynamical Cluster Index 150
3 Relevant Subsets in Boolean Networks 152
4 Conclusion 155
References 155
13 From Elementary Pragmatic Model (EPM) to Evolutive Elementary Pragmatic Model (E2PM) 156
1 Introduction 156
2 EPM Logical Structure 157
3 Extending EPM as a Boolean-Valued Model 159
3.1 Ontological Uncertainty Modeling 162
4 Concluding Remarks 163
References 165
Part V New Forms of Inter- and Trans-disciplinarity 167
14 Systemic Approach and Meaningful Complexity in Biology 168
1 Dynamic Instability and Natural Order 168
2 The Systemic Vision 170
3 Meaningful Complexity, Self-organization and Biological Information 171
4 Towards a Semantics of Biological Processes 173
References 175
15 Changing Framework in Explaining Complex Dynamics: Convergences on Systemic Accounts from Two Different Case Studies 177
1 Introduction 177
2 Cancer Explanatory Theories 178
2.1 The Discrete: Gene Centered Models 178
2.2 The Continuous: Cell Centered Models 178
2.3 The Context Dependency: Tissue Centered Models 179
3 Musical Consonance and Dissonance 180
3.1 The Discrete: Frequency Ratio of Intervals 180
3.2 The Continuous: Waves Matching 180
3.3 The Relevance of the Context: Regularity of Beating and Cochlea's Properties 181
4 Analytical Dimension of the Phenomenon: The Relevance of the Context 181
5 Conclusions: Levels of Understanding Process 183
References 184
16 Perceptions of Landscape: Observed and Observing Systems 186
1 Introduction 186
2 Difficulty in the Interpretation of Landscape 187
3 The Case Study 188
4 Conclusions 190
References 191
17 Thinking Smart City with a Focus on Emerging Identity Elements 192
1 Exploration and Identification of Urban Codes and Languages Emerged by Collective Actions 192
2 Re-semantization of Specific City Elements 193
3 Boundary Conditions as Source of System Change 194
4 Unconventional Social Behaviors as Lurking Soft Protests 196
5 Conclusions: Knitting the Identity Traces 196
References 197
18 Architecture and Systemics: In Praise of Roughness 198
1 Introduction 198
2 Roughness 198
3 Conclusion 200
References 201
19 Emergences in Social Systems: Perceptual Factors, Affordances and Performances in Architecture 202
1 Perception and Architecture 202
2 Emergences and Perceptual Factors 203
3 Affordances 205
4 Perception, Performances and Affordances 205
5 Conclusions 207
References 208
20 Bank of Experiences: A Tool to Enhance Creativity, Enterprises and Countries 209
1 Introduction 209
2 Chapter 1 209
3 Chapter 2 211
4 Chapter 3 213
5 Conclusions 214
References 215
Part VI Outlines of a New General Theory of Systems 216
21 Systems and Organizations: Theoretical Tools, Conceptual Distinctions and Epistemological Implications 217
1 Introduction 217
2 The Notion of Constraint and Its OrganizationalImplications 218
3 Two Kinds of Organizational Closure 219
4 Levels of Integration 221
5 Epistemological Remarks: Constraints and Degrees of Logical Openness 222
References 223
22 General System(s) Theory 2.0: A Brief Outline 224
1 Introduction 224
2 Examples of Words and Concepts of Bertalanffy's Systemics 224
3 Examples of Words and Concepts of Post-Bertalanffy Systemics 225
4 General Examples of Sources of Complexity Requiring Post-Bertalanffy Approaches 226
5 Examples of Sources of Complexity for Social Systems 227
6 Changing the Concept of System? 228
7 Conclusions 228
References 231
23 Phenomenology of Emergence in Music: Presentationof the Processes of Systemic Emergence in the Contrapuntaland Improvizational Aspects of Baroque Music 233
1 Phenomenology 233
2 Primary Simplicities 235
3 Science, Knowledge and Music 238
4 Fifths, Octaves and Emergence 240
5 Coherences 241
6 Conclusions 242
References 243
24 Fractal Self-similarity: From Geometric Structures to Coherent Dynamics 245
1 Introduction 245
2 The Energy-Momentum Tensor in Electrodynamics 246
3 The Quantum Field Theory Framework 247
4 On the Isomorphism Between Fractal Self-similarity and Squeezed Coherent States 249
5 Towards an Integrated Vision of Nature 251
References 252
25 Enhancement in Mathematical Abilities: A System Approach 254
1 Introduction 254
2 The Role of Enhancement in Cognition and Metacognition 255
3 The Role of Technological Tools 256
4 A System Approach 256
5 The Research 257
5.1 Subjects 257
5.2 Method 257
5.3 Results 258
6 Discussion 258
References 259
26 The Effect of Written Approval on Pupils' Academic and Social Behavior: An Exploratory Study in a Northern Italian Middle School 261
1 Introduction 261
2 Method 262
3 Results 263
4 Discussion 265
References 265