Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On Mario Bunge’s Definition of System and System Boundary

  • Published:
Science & Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this short paper we discuss Mario Bunge's definition of system boundary. It is quickly discovered that Bunge's definition of system and system boundary are both deficient. We thus propose new definitions, which (hopefully) improve the situation. Our definition of system boundary works off the same intuition behind Bunge's.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The arrows in this diagram are emphatically not representative of unidirectional patterns of influence between philosophical disciplines, but instead represent sequential fundamentality.

  2. Bunge (1992).

  3. Bunge (1992).

  4. Bunge (1992).

  5. Bunge (2001, p. 42).

  6. It follows that a system x is open if its environment is closed. Note: a nonclosed system is not necessarily an open system.

References

  • Blitz, D. (1992). Emergent evolution: Qualitative novelty and the levels of reality. Dordrecht: D. Reidel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunge, M. (1974–1989). Treatise on basic philosophy. (Eight Volumes) Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing Company.

  • Bunge, M. (1981). Scientific materialism. Dordrecht: D. Reidel.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bunge, M. (1992). System boundary. International Journal of General Systems, 20(3), 215–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunge, M. (2001). Philosophy in crisis. Amherst: Prometheus Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marquis, J.-P. (1996). A critical note on Bunge’s system boundary and a new proposal. International Journal of General Systems, 24(3), 245–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA

    Andrew M. Cavallo

Authors
  1. Andrew M. Cavallo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew M. Cavallo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cavallo, A.M. On Mario Bunge’s Definition of System and System Boundary. Sci & Educ 21, 1595–1599 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-011-9365-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-011-9365-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation