Ludwig von Bertalanffy

Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy (19 September 1901 – 12 June 1972) was an Austrian biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory (GST). This is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology, cybernetics and other fields. Bertalanffy proposed that the classical laws of thermodynamics might be applied to closed systems, but not necessarily to "open systems" such as living things. His mathematical model of an organism's growth…

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Jump to content Main menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation Main page Contents Current events Random article About Wikipedia Contact us Contribute Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file Special pages Search Search Appearance Donate Create account Log in Personal tools Donate Create account Log in Contents move to sidebar hide (Top) 1 Biography Toggle Biography subsection 1.1 Family life 2 Work Toggle Work subsection 2.1 Individual growth model 2.2 Bertalanffy equation 2.3 Bertalanffy module 2.4 General system theory 3 Publications 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links Toggle the table of contents Ludwig von Bertalanffy 29 languages Afrikaans العربية مصرى تۆرکجه Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Eesti Euskara فارسی Suomi Français Galego עברית Magyar Italiano 日本語 ქართული Nederlands Polski Piemontèis Português Русский Slovenčina Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links Article Talk English Read Edit View history Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions Read Edit View history General What links here Related changes Upload file Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote Wikidata item Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Edwardx ( talk | contribs ) at 19:13, 27 March 2024 (Unlinking common words and/or phrases (and repeated linking of uncommon ones) - see WP:OVERLINK ) . The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision . Revision as of 19:13, 27 March 2024 by Edwardx ( talk | contribs ) (Unlinking common words and/or phrases (and repeated linking of uncommon ones) - see WP:OVERLINK ) ( diff ) ← Previous revision | Latest revision ( diff ) | Newer revision → ( diff ) Austrian biologist and systems theorist (1901–1972) Ludwig von Bertalanffy Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1926 Born ( 1901-09-19 ) 19 September 1901 Atzgersdorf near Vienna , Austria-Hungary Died 12 June 1972 (1972-06-12) (aged 70) Buffalo, New York , US Alma mater University of Vienna Known for General systems theory Von Bertalanffy function Scientific career Fields Biology and systems theory Thesis Fechner und das Problem der Integration höherer Ordnung (Fechner and the Problem of Higher-Order Integration) (1926) Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy (19 September 1901 – 12 June 1972) was an Austrian biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory (GST). This is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology , cybernetics and other fields. Bertalanffy proposed that the classical laws of thermodynamics might be applied to closed systems, but not necessarily to "open systems" such as living things. His mathematical model of an organism's growth over time, published in 1934, 1 is still in use today. Bertalanffy grew up in Austria and subsequently worked in Vienna, London, Canada, and the United States. Biography Ludwig von Bertalanffy was born and grew up in the little village of Atzgersdorf (now Liesing ) near Vienna . Ludwig's mother Caroline Agnes 2 Vogel was seventeen when she married the thirty-four-year-old Gustav. Ludwig von Bertalanffy grew up as an only child educated at home by private tutors until he was ten and his parents divorced, both remarried outside the Catholic Church in civil ceremonies. 3 When he arrived at his Gymnasium (a form of grammar school) he was already well habituated in learning by reading, and he continued to study on his own. His neighbour, the famous biologist Paul Kammerer , became a mentor and an example to the young Ludwig. 4 The Bertalanffy family had roots in the 16th century nobility of Hungary which included several scholars and court officials. 5 His grandfather Charles Joseph von Bertalanffy (1833–1912) had settled in Austria and was a state theatre director in Klagenfurt , Graz and Vienna, which were important sites in imperial Austria. Ludwig's father Gustav von Bertalanffy (1861–1919) was a prominent railway administrator . On his mother's side Ludwig's grandfather Joseph Vogel was an imperial counsellor and a wealthy Vienna publisher. In 1918, Bertalanffy started his studies at the university level in philosophy and art history, first at the University of Innsbruck and then at the University of Vienna. Ultimately, Bertalanffy had to make a choice between studying philosophy of science and biology ; he chose the latter because, according to him, one could always become a philosopher later, but not a biologist. In 1926 he finished his PhD thesis ( Fechner und das Problem der Integration höherer Ordnung , translated title: Fechner and the Problem of Higher-Order Integration ) on the psychologist and philosopher Gustav Theodor Fechner . 4 For the next six years he concentrated on a project of "theoretical biology" which focused on the philosophy of biology. He received his habilitation in 1934 in "theoretical biology". 6 Bertalanffy was appointed Privatdozent at the University of Vienna in 1934. The post yielded little income, and Bertalanffy faced continuing financial difficulties. He applied for promotion to the status of associate professor, but funding from the Rockefeller Foundation enabled him to make a trip to Chicago in 1937 to work with Nicolas Rashevsky . He was also able to visit the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts . 6 Bertalanffy was still in the US when he heard of the Anschluss in March 1938. However, his attempts to remain in the US failed, and he returned to Vienna in October of that year. 6 Within a month of his return, he joined the Nazi Party , which facilitated his promotion to professor at the University of Vienna in 1940. 6 During the Second World War, he linked his "organismic" philosophy of biology to the dominant Nazi ideology, principally that of the Führerprinzip . 6 Following the defeat of Nazism, Bertalanffy found denazification problematic and left Vienna in 1948. He moved to the University of London (1948–49); the Université de Montréal (1949); the University of Ottawa (1950–54); the University of Southern California (1955–58); the Menninger Foundation (1958–60); the University of Alberta (1961–68); and the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY) (1969–72). In 1972, he died from a heart attack. Family life Bertalanffy met his wife, Maria, in April 1924 in the Austrian Alps. They were hardly ever apart for the next forty-eight years. 7 She wanted to finish studying but never did, instead devoting her life to Bertalanffy's career. Later, in Canada, she would work both for him and with him in his career, and after his death she compiled two of Bertalanffy's last works. They had one child, a son who followed in his father's footsteps by making his profession in the field of cancer research. Work Today, Bertalanffy is considered to be a founder and one of the principal authors of the interdisciplinary school of thought known as general systems theory , which was pioneered by Alexander Bogdanov . 8 According to Weckowicz (1989), he "occupies an important position in the intellectual history of the twentieth century. His contributions went beyond biology , and extended into cybernetics , education , history , philosophy , psychiatry , psychology and sociology . Some of his admirers even believe that this theory will one day provide a conceptual framework for all these disciplines". 5 Individual growth model The individual growth model published by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1934 is widely used in biological models and exists in a number of permutations. In its simplest version the so-called Bertalanffy growth equation is expressed as a differential equation of length ( L ) over time ( t ): L ′ ( t ) = r B ( L ∞ − L ( t ) ) {\displaystyle L'(t)=r_\left(L_-L(t)\right)} when r B {\displaystyle r_} is the Bertalanffy growth rate and L ∞ {\displaystyle L_} the ultimate length of the individual. This model was proposed earlier by August Friedrich Robert Pūtter (1879-1929), writing in 1920. 9 The dynamic energy budget theory provides a mechanistic explanation of this model in the case of isomorphs that experience a constant food availability. The inverse of the Bertalanffy growth rate appears to depend linearly on the ultimate length, when different food levels are compared. The intercept relates to the maintenance costs, the slope to the rate at which reserve is mobilized for use by metabolism. The ultimate length equals the maximum length at high food availabilities. 1 Passive electrical schematic of the Bertalanffy module together with equivalent expression in the Energy Systems Language Bertalanffy equation The Bertalanffy equation is the equation that describes the growth of a biological organism. The equation was offered by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1969. 10 d W d t = η S − k V {\displaystyle {\frac {dW}}=\eta S-kV} Here W is organism weight, t is the time, S is the area of organism surface, and V is a physical volume of the organism. The coefficients η {\displaystyle \eta } and k {\displaystyle k} are (by Bertalanffy's definition) the "coefficient of anabolism" and "coefficient of catabolism" respectively. The solution of the Bertalanffy equation is the function: W ( t ) = ( η c 1 − c 2 e − k 3 t ) 3 , {\displaystyle W(t)=\eta ,c_-c_,e^}t}^,,} where c 1 {\displaystyle c_} and c 2 {\displaystyle c_} are the certain constants. Bertalanffy couldn't explain the meaning of the parameters η {\displaystyle \eta } (the coefficient of anabolism) and k {\displaystyle k} (coefficient of catabolism) in his works, and that caused a fair criticism from biologists. But the Bertalanffy equation is a special case of the Tetearing equation, 11 that is a more general equation of the growth of a biological organism. The Tetearing equation determines the physical meaning of the coefficients η {\displaystyle \eta } and k {\displaystyle k} . Bertalanffy module To honour Bertalanffy, ecological systems engineer and scientist Howard T. Odum named the storage symbol of his General Systems Language as the Bertalanffy module (see image right). 12 General system theory In the late 1920s, the Soviet philosopher Alexander Bogdanov pioneered " Tektology ", whom Johann Plenge referred to as the theory of "general systems". 8 13 However, in the West, Bertalanffy is widely recognized for the development of a theory known as general system theory (GST). The theory attempted to provide alternatives to conventional models of organization . GST defined new foundations and developments as a generalized theory of systems with applications to numerous areas of study, emphasizing holism over reductionism, organism over mechanism. Foundational to GST are the inter-relationships between elements which all together form the whole. Publications 1928, Kritische Theorie der Formbildung , Borntraeger. In English: Modern Theories of Development: An Introduction to Theoretical Biology , Oxford University Press, New York: Harper, 1933 1928, Nikolaus von Kues , G. Müller, München 1928. 1930, Lebenswissenschaft und Bildung , Stenger, Erfurt 1930 1937, Das Gefüge des Lebens , Leipzig: Teubner. 1940, Vom Molekül zur Organismenwelt , Potsdam: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Athenaion . 1949, Das biologische Weltbild , Bern: Europäische Rundschau. In English: Problems of Life: An Evaluation of Modern Biological and Scientific Thought , New York: Harper, 1952. 1953, Biophysik des Fliessgleichgewichts , Braunschweig: Vieweg. 2nd rev. ed. by W. Beier and R. Laue, East Berlin: Akademischer Verlag, 1977 1953, "Die Evolution der Organismen", in Schöpfungsglaube und Evolutionstheorie , Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag, pp 53–66 1955, "An Essay on the Relativity of Categories." Philosophy of Science , Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 243–263. 1959, Stammesgeschichte, Umwelt und Menschenbild , Schriften zur wissenschaftlichen Weltorientierung Vol 5. Berlin: Lüttke 1962, Modern Theories of Development , New York: Harper 1967, Robots, Men and Minds: Psychology in the Modern World , New York: George Braziller, 1969 hardcover: ISBN 0-8076-0428-3 , paperback: ISBN 0-8076-0530-1 1968, General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications , New York: George Braziller, revised edition 1976: ISBN 0-8076-0453-4 1968, The Organismic Psychology and Systems Theory , Heinz Werner lectures, Worcester: Clark University Press. 1975, Perspectives on General Systems Theory. Scientific-Philosophical Studies , E. Taschdjian (eds.), New York: George Braziller, ISBN 0-8076-0797-5 1981, A Systems View of Man: Collected Essays , editor Paul A. LaViolette, Boulder: Westview Press, ISBN 0-86531-094-7 The first articles from Bertalanffy on general systems theory : 1945, "Zu einer allgemeinen Systemlehre", Blätter für deutsche Philosophie , 3/4. (Extract in: Biologia Generalis, 19 (1949), 139-164). 1950, "An Outline of General System Theory", British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 1, p. 114-129. 1951, "General system theory – A new approach to unity of science" (Symposium), Human Biology , Dec. 1951, Vol. 23, p. 303-361. See also Systems science portal Bowman–Heidenhain hypothesis Integrative level Population dynamics References ^ a b Bertalanffy, L. von, (1934). Untersuchungen über die Gesetzlichkeit des Wachstums . I. Allgemeine Grundlagen der Theorie; mathematische und physiologische Gesetzlichkeiten des Wachstums bei Wassertieren. Arch. Entwicklungsmech., 131:613-652. ^ (de) Taufbuch Wien-Atzgersdorf, Vol. 15, p. 333 ^ Mark Davidson (1983). Uncommon Sense: The Life and Thought of Ludwig Von Bertalanffy . Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher. p.49 ^ a b Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science, page: His Life - Bertalanffy's Origins and his First Education . Retrieved 2009-04-27 Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ^ a b T.E. Weckowicz (1989). Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972): A Pioneer of General Systems Theory . Working paper Feb 1989. p.2 ^ a b c d e Drack, Manfred; Apfalter, Wilfried; Pouvreau, David (11 March 2017). "On the Making of a System Theory of Life: Paul A Weiss and Ludwig von Bertalanffy's Conceptual Connection" . The Quarterly Review of Biology . 82 (4): 349– 373. doi : 10.1086/522810 . PMC 2874664 . PMID 18217527 . ^ Davidson, p. 51 ^ a b Gare, Arran (2000-11-01). "Aleksandr Bogdanov and Systems Theory" . Democracy & Nature . 6 (3): 341– 359. doi : 10.1080/10855660020020230 . ISSN 1085-5661 . ^ August Friedrich Robert Pūtter (6 April 1879 - 11 March 1929) wrote a textbook on comparative physiology entitled Vergleichende Physiologie (Jena: G. Fischer, 1911) and many other notable works. For a translation of his "Studien ūber physiologische Ähnlichkeit. VI. Wachstumsähnlichkeiten" ("Studies on Physiological Similarity. VI. Analogies of Growth") in Pflūgers Archiv fūr die gesamte Physiologie des Menschen und der Tiere , 180 : 298-340, see http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/147555.pdf ^ Bertalanffy, L. von, (1969). General System Theory . New York: George Braziller, pp. 136 ^ Alexandr N. Tetearing (2012). Theory of populations . Moscow: SSO Foundation. p. 607. ISBN 978-1-365-56080-4 . ^ Nicholas D. Rizzo William Gray (Editor), Nicholas D. Rizzo (Editor), (1973) Unity Through Diversity. A Festschrift for Ludwig von Bertalanffy . Gordon & Breach Science Pub ^ Plenge, Johann (1927). "Um die Allgemeine Organisationslehre" (PDF) . Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv Review of World Economics . 25 : 18– 29 – via Internet Archive . Further reading Sabine Brauckmann (1999). Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901--1972) , ISSS Luminaries of the Systemics Movement, January 1999. Peter Corning (2001). Fulfilling von Bertalanffy's Vision : The Synergism Hypothesis as a General Theory of Biological and Social Systems , ISCS 2001. Mark Davidson (1983). Uncommon Sense: The Life and Thought of Ludwig Von Bertalanffy , Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher. Debora Hammond (2005). Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of Systems Thinking , tripleC 3(2): pp. 20–27. Ervin László eds. (1972). The Relevance of General Systems Theory: Papers Presented to Ludwig Von Bertalanffy on His Seventieth Birthday , New York: George Braziller, 1972. David Pouvreau (2013). "Une histoire de la 'systémologie générale' de Ludwig von Bertalanffy - Généalogie, genèse, actualisation et postérité d'un projet herméneutique", Doctoral Thesis (1138 pages), Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris : http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00804157 Thaddus E. Weckowicz (1989). Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972): A Pioneer of General Systems Theory , Center for Systems Research Working Paper No. 89-2. Edmonton AB: University of Alberta, February 1989. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to Ludwig von Bertalanffy . International Society for the Systems Sciences' biography of Ludwig von Bertalanffy. http://isss.org/projects/primer International Society for the Systems Sciences' THE PRIMER PROJECT: INTEGRATIVE SYSTEMICS (organismics) Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science BCSSS in Vienna. Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972): A Pioneer of General Systems Theory working paper by T.E. Weckowicz, University of Alberta Center for Systems Research. Ludwig von Bertalanffy, General System Theory - Passages (1968) v t e Systems science System types Art Biological Complex Coupled human–environment Ecological Economic Information Multi-agent Nervous Recommender Social Concepts Doubling time Leverage points Limiting factor Negative feedback Positive feedback Theoretical fields Control theory Cybernetics Earth system science Living systems Sociotechnical system Systemics Urban metabolism World-systems theory Analysis Biology Dynamics Ecology Engineering Neuroscience Pharmacology Philosophy Psychology Theory ( Systems thinking ) Scientists Russell L. Ackoff Victor Aladjev William Ross Ashby Ruzena Bajcsy Béla H. Bánáthy Gregory Bateson Stafford Beer Richard E. Bellman Ludwig von Bertalanffy Margaret Boden Alexander Bogdanov Kenneth E. Boulding Murray Bowen Kathleen Carley Mary Cartwright C. West Churchman Manfred Clynes George Dantzig Edsger W. Dijkstra Fred Emery Heinz von Foerster Stephanie Forrest Jay Wright Forrester Barbara Grosz Charles A. S. Hall Mike Jackson Lydia Kavraki James J. Kay Faina M. Kirillova George Klir Allenna Leonard Edward Norton Lorenz Niklas Luhmann Humberto Maturana Margaret Mead Donella Meadows Mihajlo D. Mesarovic James Grier Miller Radhika Nagpal Howard T. Odum Talcott Parsons Ilya Prigogine Qian Xuesen Anatol Rapoport John Seddon Peter Senge Claude Shannon Katia Sycara Eric Trist Francisco Varela Manuela M. Veloso Kevin Warwick Norbert Wiener Jennifer Wilby Anthony Wilden Applications Systems theory in anthropology Systems theory in archaeology Systems theory in political science Organizations List Principia Cybernetica Category Portal Commons Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Italy Czech Republic Spain Portugal Netherlands Norway Latvia Greece Korea Sweden Poland Israel Catalonia Croatia Academics CiNii Scopus zbMATH MathSciNet Leopoldina People Trove Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Open Library SNAC Yale LUX Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ludwig_von_Bertalanffy&oldid=1215890286 " Categories : 1901 births 1972 deaths Austrian biologists Systems biologists Systems scientists Theoretical biologists Austrian emigrants to the United States Academic staff of the University of Alberta Academic staff of the Université de Montréal Academic staff of the University of Ottawa Austrian people of Hungarian descent Austrian untitled nobility Scientists from Vienna People from Liesing Hungarian nobility Nobility in the Nazi Party Cen