Reconstruction Of Theoretical System And Philosophical Reflection On Systems Science

Classic science has come into a difficult situation ever since the second half of the twentieth century. The importance of systems science has distinguished itself and its value shows gradually. There are many different viewpoints both at home and abroad, but as the lack of communication between them, it is inconvenient for them to syncretise with each other. As a new paradigm, systems science poses a challenge to many aspects of classic science. Nevertheless, a systematic study on it is rather rare. Therefore, an all-around analysis of systems science both at home and abroad, a theoretical system reconstruction of systems science on the basis of the analysis, and finally a systematic philosophy reflection on it become imperative.On the basis of analysis of systems science both at home and abroad, this dissertation absorbs the overseas rational thought, develops and reconstructs theoretical system of systems science and then make an argument on its rationality. Based on the discussion of systems science, this dissertation probes into several philosophical issues, that is, whether systems science can be regarded as scientific revolution, the theoretical breakthrough of systems science, the switch of world view and the transformation of contents of methodology. In order to understand the essence of systems science exactly, this dissertation has"the formation of systems science"as the guide to develop forward.The dissertation begins with a literature review of systems science, and analyzes"the formation of systems science"from three aspects: philosophical thoughts provide it with metaphysical foundation; scientific thoughts provide it with theoretical foundation; systems science forms in systems movement. This dissertation classifies its definitions into three kinds with differences of relation between systems science and others: static set theory, dynamic set theory and reconstructionism at home; complement theory, set theory and mathematic methodology theory abroad. Six aspects of difference between home and abroad study are concluded: because of the difference of study route between them(the overseas research with the thought coming from other subjects and back to them, while the domestic research with the thought coming from systems science and back to other subjects), the community, the concerned relationship between subjects and the understanding of systems science's function are different. Besides, the research abroad put more attention on the research of meta-paradigm of systems science and of philosophical foundation. And then the viewpoint of"syncretization and development"is put forward, and it will enhance the development of systems science at home and abroad. This dissertation tries to"reconstruct theoretical system of systems science"from three aspects as follows. First, the research object, mission and subject character of systems science. The object of research is generic systemhood of specific systems of being and becoming. It's task can be summarized as feedback loop of"to explore object system—to induce generic law of systemhood—to construct theory and method—to control and manage system—to explore object system". The subject character of it can be summarized as non-"science", neutral science, constructivism, soft experience science and issue-indicative. Those characters distinguish it from classic science. Second, the macro-structure of theoretical system of systems science. It comprises two parts: core system and exterior environment. The interior and exterior structure is in a mutual dynamic interaction. Third, the micro-structure of theoretical system of systems science. It mainly involves the core system of systems science, and includes four subsystems: philosophy of systems science, science subjects, technology subjects and engineering subjects of systems science. All of them are elaborated on in this dissertation. In contrast with other systems, there are five aspects of renovations: theoretical system of systems science is a nonlinear space framework; philosophy of it comes into core system; the core system interacts with its environment; the core system is divided by the difference among science, technology and engineering besides philosophy; the structure of third-order is used in this framework. Under the guide of Kuhn's paradigm idea, the dissertation makes a systematic philosophy reflection on systems science. First, through hard and soft paradigms brought forward by the analysis of paradigm notion, from classic science to systems science is not hard paradigm shift, that is, scientific revolution, but soft paradigm shift. Second, the theoretical breakthrough of systems science are summarized as follows: constructivism, trans-subject, holism, generativism and relationalism. Third, five points of world view shift are summed up: from constitutivism to generativism, from being theory to becoming theory, from substantialism to relationalism, from complicity theory to complexity theory, from determinism to non-"determinism". Fourth, the transformation of contents of methodology are summarized into four aspects: object shift from the acquirement of knowledge to the solution of theoretical or realistic issue, basic principles shift from reductionism to surmount-reductionism, the introduction of practical approach and its surpass to binary opposition between subject and object, the introduction of qualitative method and the establishment of its status. As the theory system is established and world view and methodology come into being gradually, the paradigm of systems science is being formed.The research object of this dissertation includes seven aspects: first, to understand comprehensively the viewpoints of systems science at home and abroad; second, to discuss profoundly the research difference of systems science at home and abroad; third, to reconstruct theoretical system of systems science, and to clarify its central thought and advantages; fourth, to pose the viewpoint that systems science cannot be regarded as scientific revolution but as shift of soft paradigm; fifth, to conclude systematically five theoretical breakthrough of systems science; sixth, to apprehend comprehensively the worldwide outlook of systems science paradigm; seventh, to expose four main renovations of content of systems science methodology.This dissertation is a basic research, and the end of it signifies the commencement instead of the termination of the study. In the epilogue, the author discusses briefly eight important issues that could be researched further. The author will not cease study after this dissertation, but study correlative research of systems science on basis of it in the future.