Systems Philosophy Requirements and Preparation, Essay Example

There are numerous paradigms that can be used to identify the components of a system with respect to their internal and external mechanisms as well as the purpose of its design (Flood & Carson, 2013). Defining a system based on its purpose recognizes the fundamentally correlated elements that collaborate to function as a whole, as in a software application, but also can describe an organizational design consisting of set processes relative to the performance of specific tasks (Friel & Farah, 2015).  Systems science is defined in numerous ways, which includes “the scientific exploration and theory of systems in the various sciences, such as biology, sociology, economics, etc., while general system theory concerns the principles that apply to all (Hieronymi, 2013, p. 581).  Despite extensive research regarding the paradigms of systems philosophy, there is little consensus regarding the ontological and epistemological facets that identify the requirements of this concept.  This paper will explore these gray areas of systems philosophy to identify a personal perspective regarding the ontology and epistemology that provides systems-based methodologies to address complex systems problems.

Personal Perspective of Systems Philosophy

Current literature identifies four paradigms associated with the conceptualization of systems philosophy as it relates to thoughts or impressions regarding the phenomena, representation or expression of relative knowledge, human nature, and investigation or interventions of the situation (Flood & Carson, 2013).  These concepts introduce four distinct paradigms that represent philosophical thinking, which are the ontology, epistemology, methodology, and human elements of systems philosophy (Flood & Carson, 2013).

Each paradigm elucidates unique elements of systems philosophy that determine what type of theory we can construct in addition to how the prognosis can be interpreted if it is realized (Eskov, Eskov, Filatova, & Filatov, 2012).  Systems theory does not intend to identify any singular representation for a physical, chemical, biological or other systems, but attempts to develop a general consensus regarding diverse representations of different systems that can be effectively constructed to aid in problem-solving (Hieronymi, 2013).

Ontology

The ontology of system philosophy addresses what exists in a particular context that can be discussed and is indicative of impressions regarding the nature of reality, existence, the view of the world, or the nature of the problems being investigated (Flood & Carson, 2013).  Ontology also indicates the relationship among different variables that:

• enables the collection of relevant data;

• shapes the understanding concerning the reality of planned project benefits;
• forms the basis of understanding regarding the proposed benefits of projects; and
• guides use of the positivist approach (Eskov, Eskov, Filatova, & Filatov, 2012)

Ontological examinations within systems philosophy addresses what can be discussed ideally in an area, which deals with reference to specific terms and their definitions linked to a description of a world or a problem in question. The ontological query questions the nature and form of reality. Basically, it seeks to establish what thing exists that can be known concerning it.

the theory falls in the continuum of mature to nascent theory. Mature theory presents well-designed models and constructs studied over time. While nascent research theory on the other hand, provide answers to research questions.

Epistemology

Epistemology defines the extent of human understanding or knowledge acquired through various inquiries and alternative investigation methods, aiding in the development of assumptions or hypotheses that indicate the perspective role of the researcher in the attainment of knowledge (Montuori, 2012).  Analysis of epistemology in systems theory:

• establishes the basis for the research;
• reflects the perception and view of what the researcher can know concerning systems theories and how to understand it;
• shapes the methodological approach;
• provides information to use logical positivism to gather and disseminate information;
• raises a number of questions concerning how to understand reality, the relationship among variables, characteristics and assumptions to achieve the findings, and reliability and quality;
• helps demonstrate the relationships between variables; and
• guides the use of different qualitative or quantitative approaches (Montuori, 2012; Okpanachi, 2012)

In systems theories, the epistemological question seeks to determine the relationship that occurs between the knower and anticipated knower and the thing that can be known based on the study of the nature of different theories of knowledge and their justifications (Okpanachi, 2012).

Systems-based Methodology

The systems-based methodology seeks to establish the way the inquirer can do to find out what is believed to be illustrated through the inquiry and refers to the theory or analysis needed for the research project to proceed (Korn, 2011).  The system-based methodology:

• provides a systematic way of answering questions;
• provides a way of conducting a study;
• provides the procedure for defining research philosophy, design, instruments, sample data, collection, and data analysis; and
• provides the work plan for the topic

The system-based methodology also provides direction to the information gathering process by enabling the integration of different approaches to collect data from either primary or secondary sources (Hieronymi, 2013).  Using systems theory, information gathering provides different objectives to the research proposal by allowing identification of specific problems that may require adaptation of primary and secondary methods (Hieronymi, 2013).

System-based methodologies enable the use of science with its methodology of inductive generalisations and generation of subsequent models is based on quantitative properties of things to integrate the use of mathematics so that models can be exposed to experimental or observational tests in precise terms, which has proven to be very successful when applied to quantifiable aspects of natural, technical and living phenomena (Korn, 2011).  Information gathering using system-based methods allows one to develop critical thinking as a way of sorting and sifting techniques and broadens a researcher’s outlook in order to inform the topical understanding on how to explore among diverse sources (Hieronymi, 2013).

Conclusion

The use of systems theories in the development of procedural rules for scientific analysis is instrumental to the progress of science.  Systems-based examinations typically integrate different uses of information; various sources of information; dynamic methods for gathering data; the way to selection of applicable details from the collected data; strategies on how to collect primary and secondary information; and the need to use structured systems-based theories for interpretation of the data (Pepper, 1972).  The systems theory can be used for various forms of sociological and scientific research to establish a consensus regarding the ontological and epistemological facets that identify the paradigms of systems philosophy.

References

Eskov, V. M., Eskov, V. V., Filatova, O. E., & Filatov, M. A. (2012). Two types of systems and three types of paradigms in systems philosophy and system science. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 5(10), 602-607.

Flood, R. L., & Carson, ?. (2013). Dealing with complexity: An introduction to the theory and application of systems science. New York: Springer Science & Business Media.

Friel, T., & Farah, B. N. (2015). Systems design. Retrieved from Encyclopedia of Business: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Str-Ti/Systems-Design.html

Hieronymi, A. (2013, October 18). Understanding systems science: A visual and integrative approach. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 30, 580-595. doi:10.1002/sres.2215

Korn, J. (2011). From the systemic view to systems science. Kybernetes, 40(1/2), 23-46. doi:10.1108/03684921111117915

Montuori, A. (2012). Creative inquiry: Confronting the challenges of scholarship in the 21st century. Futures, 44, 64-70.

Okpanachi, A. I. (2012). Science and the postmodern challenge. Studies in Sociology of Science, 3(4), 67-74. doi:10.3968/j.sss.1923018420120304.1152

Pepper, S. C. (1972, June ). Systems philosophy as a world hypothesis. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 32(4), 548-553.