System: Semantic network

Basic Definitions of a System

• A system consists of elements — System [consists of]→ Element (has‑part, part–whole)
• A system has connections — System [includes]→ Connection (has‑part, part–whole)
• A system has a structure — System [has]→ Structure (has‑property, property)
• A system possesses integrity — System [possesses]→ Integrity (has‑property, property)
• A system is limited by a boundary — System [has]→ Boundary (has‑part, part–whole)
• A system exists within an environment — System [is located in]→ Environment (located‑in, location)
• A system has inputs — System [has]→ Input (has‑part, part–whole)
• A system has outputs — System [has]→ Output (has‑part, part–whole)
• A system interacts with its environment — System [participates in]→ Interaction with the environment (participates‑in, participation in a process)
• A system has a goal — System [has]→ Goal (has‑property, property)
• A system performs a function — System [performs]→ Function (has‑property, property)
• A system is organized hierarchically — System [is organized as]→ Hierarchical structure (has‑property, property)
• A system is part of a supersystem — System [is part of]→ Supersystem (part‑of, part–whole)

Dynamics and Lifecycle

• A system has a state — System [has]→ State (has‑property, property)
• A system exhibits behavior — System [exhibits]→ Behavior (has‑property, property)
• A system develops — System [participates in]→ Development (participates‑in, process)
• A system evolves — System [participates in]→ Evolution (participates‑in, process)
• A system undergoes a lifecycle — System [participates in]→ Lifecycle (participates‑in, process)

Emergent Effects

• A system exhibits synergy — System [possesses]→ Synergy (has‑property, property)
• A system possesses holism — System [possesses]→ Holism (has‑property, property)
• A system demonstrates a systemic effect — System [possesses]→ Systemic effect (has‑property, property)
• A system demonstrates a superadditive effect — System [possesses]→ Superadditive effect (has‑property, property)

Inter-level Influences

• A supersystem influences a system — Supersystem [influences]→ System (affects, inter-level influence)
• A system influences subsystems — System [influences]→ Subsystem (affects, inter-level influence)
• A system influences elements — System [influences]→ Element (affects, influence of the whole on its parts)

Classification Attributes (Categorical Principle)

By Number of Components

• A system is single-component — System [is a]→ Single-component system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is multi-component — System [is a]→ Multi-component system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Dynamics

• A system is static — System [is a]→ Static system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is dynamic — System [is a]→ Dynamic system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is functioning — System [is a]→ Functioning system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Exchange with the Environment

• A system is open — System [is a]→ Open system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is closed — System [is a]→ Closed system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is isolated — System [is a]→ Isolated system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Predictability/Causality

• A system is deterministic — System [is a]→ Deterministic system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is probabilistic — System [is a]→ Probabilistic system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Homogeneity of Composition

• A system is homogeneous — System [is a]→ Homogeneous system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is heterogeneous — System [is a]→ Heterogeneous system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Representation (Discreteness)

• A system is discrete — System [is a]→ Discrete system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is continuous — System [is a]→ Continuous system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Degree of Organization

• A system is well-organized — System [is a]→ Well-organized system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is poorly-organized — System [is a]→ Poorly-organized system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is diffuse — System [is a]→ Diffuse system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is developing — System [is a]→ Developing system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is self-organizing — System [is a]→ Self-organizing system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Origin

• A system is natural — System [is a]→ Natural system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is artificial — System [is a]→ Artificial system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is mixed (by origin) — System [is a]→ Mixed system (is‑a, genus–species)

By Materiality

• A system is physical — System [is a]→ Physical system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is conceptual — System [is a]→ Conceptual system (is‑a, genus–species)
• A system is functional — System [is a]→ Functional system (is‑a, genus–species)

Law of Requisite Variety (Ashby)

• A system possesses a variety of states — System [has]→ Variety of states (has‑property, property)
• The variety of a system corresponds to the variety of disturbances — System's variety [corresponds to]→ Variety of disturbances (requirement/constraint)

Epistemology and Modeling

• A system is represented by a model — System [is described by]→ Model (has‑property, representation)
• A system is represented by a mathematical model — System [is described by]→ Mathematical model (has‑property, representation)
• An observer defines a system — Observer [defines]→ System (causes, causal influence)
• The research goal determines the system boundaries — Research goal [influences]→ Boundary (causes, causal influence)
• The definition of a system depends on the domain of knowledge — Definition of a system [depends on]→ Domain of knowledge (caused‑by, conditioned by)
• The definition of a system depends on the level of abstraction — Definition of a system [depends on]→ Level of abstraction (caused‑by, conditioned by)

Spatio-temporal Localization and Identity

• A system is bounded in time — System [has]→ Temporal boundary (has‑part, part–whole)
• A system is localized in space — System [is located in]→ Spatial region (located‑in, location)
• A system possesses an identity — System [possesses]→ Identity (has‑property, property)

Cybernetic Representation and Transformations

• A system transforms inputs into outputs — System [participates in]→ Transformation of inputs into outputs (participates‑in, process)
• A system is represented as a "black box" — System [is described as]→ Black box model (has‑property, representation)
• A system operates on information — System [operates on]→ Information (participates‑in, process)
• A system operates on energy — System [operates on]→ Energy (participates‑in, process)
• A system operates on matter — System [operates on]→ Matter (participates‑in, process)

Integration, Cooperation, and Stability of Relations

• A system possesses integratedness — System [possesses]→ Integratedness (has‑property, property)
• A system facilitates cooperation among elements — System [facilitates]→ Cooperation of elements (causes, causal influence)
• A system has stable relations between elements — System [possesses]→ Stability of relations (has‑property, property)

Activity and Management Aspects

• A system participates in decision-making — System [participates in]→ Decision-making (participates‑in, process)
• A system participates in management — System [participates in]→ Management (participates‑in, process)

Logical-Philosophical Formulations

• A system is defined by relations on a set — System [is defined by]→ Relations on a set (caused‑by, defined/conditioned by)
• A system is defined by the properties of objects — System [is defined by]→ Properties of objects (caused‑by, defined/conditioned by)