The place of general system theory in biological problems

Abstract

Bertalanffy's "General System Theory" is a recent attempt to produce a theory which has relevance to the totality of human knowledge. The lack of success in such an endeavour is due to the paradox encountered therein. An analogous paradox, is encountered when viewing the photograph on page A. As one views the photograph, two forms express themselves, (a) 'faces’ are realised at the expense of the vase, (b) the 'vase' is realised at the expense of the 'faces'. Such 'faces'/'vase’ situations (opposing systems, opposing logics) are encountered within all basic concepts. This paradox is investigated by study of more general literature relating to time, probability and information and by way of symbolic logic with its process of conceptual transformation from induction to deduction. The results of some experiments, on the phenomena of form are presented and are applied to biology through a consideration of the concept of evolution. It is concluded that evolution is a composite of two parts;-