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Ludwig von Bertalanffy

Ludwig von Bertalanffy Biography

Author

Biologist and one of the founders of systems theory, making significant contributions to the development of biology and systems science.

Biologist and one of the founders of systems theory, making significant contributions to the development of biology and systems science.

Related Quotes

“Scientists, operating in the various disciplines, are encapsulated in their private universe, and it is difficult to get word from one cocoon to the other.”

Science Universe Diversity Fundamentalism Scientism

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“Progress is only possible by passing from a state of undifferentiated wholeness to differentiation of parts.”

States Progress Passing Passings Wholeness Differentiation

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“Considering the inconceivable complexity of processes even in a simple cell, it is little short of a miracle that the simplest possible model - namely, a linear equation between two variables - actually applies in quite a general number of cases.”

Littles Two Process Simple Numbers Cases Models Miracle Cells Complexity Considering Equations Simplest Linear Variables Linear Equations

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“Thus even supposedly unadulterated facts of observation already are interfused with all sorts of conceptual pictures, model concepts, theories or whatever expression you choose. The choice is not whether to remain in the field of data or to theorize; the choice is only between models that are more or less abstract, generalized, near or more remote from direct observation, more or less suitable to represent observed phenomena.”

Facts Choices Fields Expression Theory Models Concepts Direct Observation Data Abstract You Choose Suitable

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“We are seeking another basic outlook: the world as an organization. This would profoundly change categories of our thinking and influence our practical attitudes. We must envision the biosphere as a whole with mutually reinforcing or mutually destructive inter-dependencies.”

Thinking World Whole Attitude Influence Awareness Organization Seeking Practicals Destructive Categories Outlook Dependency Biosphere

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“People are not machines, but in all situations where they are given the opportunity, they will act like machines.”

People Opportunity Given Situation Machines

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“I think that the fact that a theory so vague, so insufficiently verifiable, and so far from the criteria otherwise applied in "hard" science, could become a dogma, can be explained only on sociological grounds.”

Hard Facts Theory Dogma Vague Criteria Sociological

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

“It is the 'zoomorphic' or 'rattomorphic' fallacy - the expressed or implicit contention that there is no essential difference between rat and man - which makes American psychology so profoundly disturbing.”

Men Differences Psychology Essentials Psychological Rats Disturbing Fallacy Contention Implicit Psychiatric

Author:Ludwig von Bertalanffy

About the Author

Born: September 19, 1901
Died: June 12, 1972
Known for: Author
Quotes: 8

Related Topics

Facts Models Theory Abstract Attitude Awareness Biosphere Cases Categories Cells

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

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