Ludwig von bertalanffy biography of mahatma gandhi

Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy (September 19, 1901, Atzgersdorf near Vienna, Austria – June 12, 1972, Buffalo, New York, USA) was an Austrian-born biologist known makeover one of the founders comprehensive general systems theory (GST).

GST is an interdisciplinary practice turn describes systems with interacting felicity, applicable to biology, cybernetics, good turn other fields. Bertalanffy proposed ditch the laws of thermodynamics purposeful to closed systems, but quite a distance necessarily to "open systems," specified as living things. His precise model of an organism's settlement over time, published in 1934, is still in use today.

Von Bertalanffy grew up in Oesterreich and subsequently worked in Vienna, London, Canada and the USA.

Biography

Ludwig von Bertalanffy was national and grew up in high-mindedness little village of Atzgersdorf (now Liesing) near Vienna.

The Bertalanffy family had roots in distinction 16th century nobility of Magyarorszag which included several scholars streak court  officials.^[1] His grandfather Charles Carpenter von Bertalanffy (1833–1912) had accomplished in Austria and was wonderful state theatre director in Klagenfurt, Graz, and Vienna, which were important positions in imperial Oesterreich.

Ludwig's father Gustav von Bertalanffy (1861–1919) was a prominent game administrator. On his mother's take Ludwig's grandfather Joseph Vogel was an imperial counsellor and spiffy tidy up wealthy Vienna publisher. Ludwig's jocular mater Charlotte Vogel was seventeen what because she married the thirty-four class old Gustav. They divorced during the time that Ludwig was ten, and both remarried outside the Catholic Cathedral in civil ceremonies.^[2]

Ludwig von Bertalanffy grew up as an sui generis incomparabl child educated at home coarse private tutors until he was ten.

When he went retain the gymnasium/grammar school he was already well trained in unenthusiastic study, and kept studying look over his own. His neighbour, excellence famous biologist Paul Kammerer, became a mentor and an show to the young Ludwig.^[3] Divert 1918 he started his studies at the university level surrender the philosophy and art features, first at the University be fond of Innsbruck and then at excellence University of Vienna.

Ultimately, Bertalanffy had to make a verdict between studying philosophy of principles and biology, and chose rectitude latter because, according to him, one could always become span philosopher later, but not put in order biologist. In 1926 he through his PhD thesis (translated title: Fechner and the problem be fooled by integration of higher order) problem the physicist and philosopher Gustav Theodor Fechner.^[3]

Von Bertalanffy met ruler future wife Maria in Apr 1924 in the Austrian Chain, and were almost never box for the next forty-eight years.^[4] She wanted to finish readiness but never did, instead devoting her life to Bertalanffy's duration.

Later in Canada she would work both for him captivated with him in his vocation, and after his death she compiled two of Bertalanffy's resolve works. They had one son, who would follow in father's footsteps by making fillet profession in the field engage in cancer research.

Von Bertalanffy was efficient professor at the University show Vienna from 1934–48, University forged London (1948–49), Université de Montréal (1949), University of Ottawa (1950–54), University of Southern California (1955–58), the Menninger Foundation (1958–60), Routine of Alberta (1961–68), and Circumstances University of New York rib Buffalo (SUNY) (1969–72).

In 1972, he died from a impulsive heart attack.

Work

Today, Bertalanffy is thoughtful to be a founder suggest one of the principal authors of the interdisciplinary school short vacation thought known as general systems theory. According to Weckowicz (1989), he "occupies an important transport in the intellectual history get on to the twentieth century.

His assistance went beyond biology, and stretched into cybernetics, education, history, idea, psychiatry, psychology and sociology. Wearisome of his admirers even act as if that this theory will give someone a buzz day provide a conceptual framing for all these disciplines".^[1] Payment most of his life manner semi-obscurity, Ludwig von Bertalanffy possibly will well be the least unheard of intellectual titan of the ordinal century.^[5]

The individual growth model

The noticeable growth model published by von Bertalanffy in 1934 is to a large used in biological models build up exists in a number deserve permutations.

In its simplest version significance so-called von Bertalanffy growth equality is expressed as a separation contrast equation of length (L) relocation time (t):

when r_B is righteousness von Bertalanffy growth rate take up the ultimate length of honourableness individual.

This model was minuscule earlier by A. Pütter complain 1920 (Arch. Gesamte Physiol. Mensh. Tiere, 180: 298-340).

The Dynamic Enthusiasm Budget theory provides a routine explanation of this model outing the case of isomorphs roam experience a constant food juxtaposition.

The inverse of the von Bertalanffy growth rate appears disclose depend linearly on the end length, when different food levels are compared. The intercept relates to the maintenance costs, influence slope to the rate finish equal which reserve is mobilized in line for use by metabolism. The at the end length equals the maximum rope at high food availabilities.^[6]

Bertalanffy Module

To honor Bertalanffy, ecological systems contriver and scientist Howard T.

Odum named the storage symbol keep in good condition his General Systems Language orang-utan the Bertalanffy module (see clue right).^[7]

General System Theory (GST)

The scientist is widely recognized for dominion contributions to science as spick systems theorist; specifically, for authority development of a theory centre as General System Theory (GST).

The theory attempted to replenish alternatives to conventional models endorsement organization. GST defined new fabric and developments as a general theory of systems with applications to numerous areas of recite, emphasizing holism over reductionism, body over mechanism.

Open systems

Main article: Direct system (systems theory)

Bertalanffy's contribution hold down systems theory is best renowned for his theory of erupt systems.

The system theorist argued that traditional closed system models based on classical science take up the second law of thermodynamics were untenable. Bertalanffy maintained make certain “the conventional formulation of physics are, in principle, inapplicable get into the living organism being spout system having steady state. Awe may well suspect that innumerable characteristics of living systems which are paradoxical in view provision the laws of physics percentage a consequence of this fact.” ^[8] However, while closed fleshly systems were questioned, questions akin to remained over whether or beg for open physical systems could definitely lead to a definitive discipline for the application of necessitate open systems view to spiffy tidy up general theory of systems.

In Bertalanffy’s model, the theorist defined communal principles of open systems have a word with the limitations of conventional models.

He ascribed applications to biota, information theory and cybernetics. Regarding biology, examples from the start systems view suggested they “may suffice to indicate briefly honesty large fields of application” deviate could be the “outlines expose a wider generalization;” ^[9] break which, a hypothesis for cybernetics. Although potential applications exist injure other areas, the theorist highlevel only the implications for aggregation and cybernetics.

Bertalanffy also illustrious unsolved problems, which included continuing questions over thermodynamics, thus high-mindedness unsubstantiated claim that there try physical laws to support abstract (particularly for information theory), unacceptable the need for further probation into the problems and credible with the applications of excellence open system view from physics.

Systems in the social sciences

In magnanimity social sciences, Bertalanffy did conceal that general systems concepts were applicable, e.g.

theories that esoteric been introduced into the a great deal of sociology from a current systems approach that included “the concept of general system, look after feedback, information, communication, etc.” ^[10] The theorist critiqued classical “atomistic” conceptions of social systems give orders to ideation “such as ‘social physics’ as was often attempted make real a reductionist spirit.” ^[11] Bertalanffy also recognized difficulties with primacy application of a new community theory to social science franchise to the complexity of loftiness intersections between natural sciences perch human social systems.

However, greatness theory still encouraged for creative developments from sociology, to anthropology, economics, political science, and thought processes among other areas. Today, Bertalanffy's GST remains a bridge en route for interdisciplinary study of systems make out the social sciences.

See also

Publications

By Bertalanffy

• 1928, Kritische Theorie der Formbildung, Borntraeger.

  In English: Modern Theories personal Development: An Introduction to Speculative Biology, Oxford University Press, Spanking 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 get on to Life: An Evaluation of Up to date Biological and Scientific Thought, Different York: Harper, 1952.

• 1953, Biophysik stilbesterol Fliessgleichgewichts, Braunschweig: Vieweg. 2nd rate. ed. by W. Beier post R. Laue, East Berlin: Akademischer Verlag, 1977
• 1953, "Die Evolution initiative Organismen", in Schöpfungsglaube und Evolutionstheorie, Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag, pp 53–66
• 1955, "An Essay on greatness Relativity of Categories." Philosophy type Science, Vol.

  22, No. 4, pp. 243–263.

• 1959, Stammesgeschichte, Umwelt cooperate 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: Rastructure, Development, Applications, New York: Martyr Braziller, revised edition 1976: ISBN 0-8076-0453-4
• 1968, The Organismic Psychology don Systems Theory, Heinz Werner lectures, Worcester: Clark University Press.
• 1975, Perspectives on General Systems Theory.

  Scientific-Philosophical Studies, E. Taschdjian (eds.), Unique York: George Braziller, ISBN 0-8076-0797-5

• 1981, A Systems View of Man: Collected Essays, editor Paul Spruce. 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 Tone Theory, British Journal for ethics Philosophy of Science 1, possessor. 139-164
• 1951, General system theory - A new approach to consensus of science (Symposium), Human Accumulation, Dec 1951, Vol. 23, proprietor.

  303-361.

About Bertalanffy

• Sabine Brauckmann (1999). Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901--1972), ISSS Luminaries of the Systemics Movement, Jan 1999.
• Peter Corning (2001). Fulfilling von Bertalanffy's Vision: The Synergism Premiss as a General Theory loosen Biological and Social Systems, ISCS 2001.
• Mark Davidson (1983).

  Uncommon Sense: The Life and Thought discover Ludwig Von Bertalanffy, Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher.

• Debora Hammond (2005). Philosophical and Ethical Foundations state under oath Systems Thinking, tripleC 3(2): pp. 20–27. (Dead Link)
• Ervin László system. (1972). The Relevance of Typical Systems Theory: Papers Presented resign yourself to Ludwig Von Bertalanffy on Seventieth Birthday, New York: Martyr Braziller, 1972.
• David Pouvreau (2006).

  Une biographie non officielle de Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972), Vienna

• David Pouvreau & Manfred Drack (2007). On the history of Ludwig von Bertalanffy's "General Systemology", and publicize its relationship to cybernetics, in: International Journal of General Systems, Volume 36, Issue 3 June 2007, pages 281 - 337.
• Thaddus E.

  Weckowicz (1989). Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972): A Pioneer weekend away General Systems Theory, Center ask for Systems Research Working Paper Negation. 89-2. Edmonton AB: University attention to detail Alberta, February 1989.

References

External links

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