4
A. LOCKER
even the remnants of a perceptive element have completely vanished.
Iconic models, for instance, are block diagrams, flow diagrams, etc.,
whereas symbolic models are purely mathematical descriptions.
In modern scientific usage the term model is increasingly displacing
the term hypothesis; indeed, the use of the word model tacitly implies a
sort of explanation and expresses a certain level of knowledge already
achieved. Hypothesis, however, not being clearly separable from the term
model, rather emphasizes the pre-suppositions to be accepted in order to
attain new knowledge.
The Concept of a System (in Verbal and Formal Respects)
To keep in touch with the epistemological nature of the model, it
becomes necessary to establish the position for constructing the original,
i.e. the system; this position is reflected in the model. However,-without
reference to the manner of attaining a model-the general definition of
system and model is completely identical. The following is an example of
a verbal definition of a general system [51: a system is a set of objects, of
the relations between these objects, and of their properties. The position
of the objects within the system (or model), being determined by tbeir
relations, shows (1) how fundamentally, even in such a preliminary verbal
definition, the structural or relational aspect prevails and (2) how impossible
it is to define a system (or model) without previously clarifying the objects
and relations entering into such a definition. One has, therefore, to consider as fundamental what was casually mentioned above, namely, the
resolution level as an expression of a position accepted by the perceiving,
conceiving and operating subject [6]. The level of resolution depends (a) on
the quantities or properties being assigned to an entity (system or model),
(b) on the accuracy with which these properties are expressed (or measured)
and (c) on the time intervals at which this should be done. In approaching
this problem, we are faced with certain terms which are necessary in order
to arrive at an appropriate definition, i.e. terms like activity, behavior,
structure and organization as determinants for activity or behavior. No
system exists by itself, it is permanently connected with an environment,
either described as a system (supersystem in this respect) or represented by
the perceiving and conceiving subject. From a position taken outside a
given or created system, several quantities entering the definition must
appear as observables.
A formal definition may be attempted in the following manner, somewhat simplified and starting with such observables [6]:
Let the set of external observables be:
(1)
A. LOCKER
even the remnants of a perceptive element have completely vanished.
Iconic models, for instance, are block diagrams, flow diagrams, etc.,
whereas symbolic models are purely mathematical descriptions.
In modern scientific usage the term model is increasingly displacing
the term hypothesis; indeed, the use of the word model tacitly implies a
sort of explanation and expresses a certain level of knowledge already
achieved. Hypothesis, however, not being clearly separable from the term
model, rather emphasizes the pre-suppositions to be accepted in order to
attain new knowledge.
The Concept of a System (in Verbal and Formal Respects)
To keep in touch with the epistemological nature of the model, it
becomes necessary to establish the position for constructing the original,
i.e. the system; this position is reflected in the model. However,-without
reference to the manner of attaining a model-the general definition of
system and model is completely identical. The following is an example of
a verbal definition of a general system [51: a system is a set of objects, of
the relations between these objects, and of their properties. The position
of the objects within the system (or model), being determined by tbeir
relations, shows (1) how fundamentally, even in such a preliminary verbal
definition, the structural or relational aspect prevails and (2) how impossible
it is to define a system (or model) without previously clarifying the objects
and relations entering into such a definition. One has, therefore, to consider as fundamental what was casually mentioned above, namely, the
resolution level as an expression of a position accepted by the perceiving,
conceiving and operating subject [6]. The level of resolution depends (a) on
the quantities or properties being assigned to an entity (system or model),
(b) on the accuracy with which these properties are expressed (or measured)
and (c) on the time intervals at which this should be done. In approaching
this problem, we are faced with certain terms which are necessary in order
to arrive at an appropriate definition, i.e. terms like activity, behavior,
structure and organization as determinants for activity or behavior. No
system exists by itself, it is permanently connected with an environment,
either described as a system (supersystem in this respect) or represented by
the perceiving and conceiving subject. From a position taken outside a
given or created system, several quantities entering the definition must
appear as observables.
A formal definition may be attempted in the following manner, somewhat simplified and starting with such observables [6]:
Let the set of external observables be:
(1)