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The relationship between: Miller's living systems theory and Beer's viable systems theory
Author(s) -
Nechansky Helmut
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.955
Subject(s) - miller , living systems , cybernetics , scope (computer science) , systems theory , viable system model , social system , epistemology , simple (philosophy) , sociology , computer science , neoclassical economics , mathematical economics , economics , ecology , philosophy , social science , artificial intelligence , biology , programming language
The paper investigates if a living system according to Miller's living systems theory is a viable system according to Beer's viable systems theory and vice versa . Miller's and Beer's theories are briefly reviewed and translated into one cybernetic approach. The comparison of their functional and structural commonalties and differences shows: Miller's theory allows simple structures, below the scope of Beer's approach, which are nevertheless viable, as examples from biology, anthropology and economy show. Beer's viable systems can be derived form Miller's living systems theory, i.e. Beer deals only with issues of viability that emerge with complex living systems. Short considerations of large social units suggest that their structures are not unequivocally determined and may be viable while deviating from Beer's approach, too. Yet such structures can be derived from Miller's theory. It is concluded that Miller's living systems theory covers viability more completely than Beer's viable systems theory. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.