Reboot

A phase transition

After ~94 posts and just under two years of weekly publishing, it's time for System Explorers to reboot and transition into a new phase.

I’m taking several weeks off to focus on refining my vision for advancing systems research. This means less casual exploration of ideas, and more focused theoretical work, technology development, and coordination with collaborators.

You can see my recent working paper: A Deep Systems Analysis of Bitcoin for a small glimpse of the direction I’m headed in.

For my own reflection — and to make my journey through the world of systems up until this point a bit more accessible — I’ve created a catalog of every post I've written. It’s organized into six general categories:

1. Foundations & Philosophy of Systems

2. Complexity Science

3. Historical Traditions & Key Figures + Organizations

4. Applied Systems Research

5. Methods, Tools & Learning

6. Personal Content and Reflections

Thank you to all of my readers and subscribers for your support. I’ll return to publishing when I have something important to say.

The System Explorers Catalog

1. Foundations & Philosophy of Systems

Core concepts and philosophical aspects of systems science

• What is Systems Science?
  Overview of systems science as a meta-discipline examining patterns across systems of all types, with discussion of its current state and potential.

• Systemness
  Exploration of the first principle of systems science: what makes something a system versus a mere collection of parts.

• Process and Hierarchy
  Introducing two fundamental concepts in systems science: processes and hierarchical organization.

• Networks
  Introduction to key network principles like nodes, edges, hubs, and centrality as tools for understanding systems.

• Dynamics
  Introducing the concept of dynamics in systems.

• Complexity
  Defining complexity in systems, distinguishing complex from merely complicated, discussing agent-based modeling as a key analytical tool.

• Evolution
  Introducing evolutionary principles and processes as they apply to complex systems.

• Information and Knowledge
  Introducing the key systems concepts of information theory and knowledge creation.

• Governance
  Introducing the key systems concept of governance in systems.

• External Models
  Introducing the key systems concept of external modeling.

• Self-models
  Introducing the key systems concept of self-modeling.

• Understanding
  Introducing the notion that systems can be understood.

• Improvement
  Exploring the notion that systems can be improved.

• A Mathematical Definition of System
  Formal mathematical approach to defining what constitutes a system.

• What Can We Know About Systems
  Exploration of observation limits in systems research, examining how individual perception affects our understanding of systems.

• Systems: Science and Sciences
  Examining the lack of clarity around systems science’s boundaries and basic terminology.

• Boundaries in Systems Science
  A reflection on the concept of boundary after an ISSS meeting.

• Categories?
  Early impressions of category theory and its potential relevance for systems research.

• Organization
  The role of organization in systems.

• Formalizing System Ontologies
  Introducing a prototype formal ontology of systems.

• Thoughts on General Systemology
  Reflections on the field of general systems theory and its potential development.

• Early Adopters?
  Exploring the idea that we are in the early adoption stage of systems science and its implications.

• Systemism as Ideology
  Introducing “systemism” as a meaningful intellectual movement and ideological framework.

• Spreading Systemism with an Idea Machine
  Strategies for promoting systemism more widely in society.

2. Complexity Science

Posts on complexity theory, emergence, and complex adaptive systems

• Complexity (2024)
  A personal poem reflection on change and adaptation as fundamental constants in complex systems.

• A Quick Note on Complex Adaptive Systems
  Clarifying a key point about complex adaptive systems.

• Exploring Emergence in Artificial Life
  Reflections on a paper that studies emergence in the context of artificial life research.

• The History of Complexity
  Thoughts on the importance of the Sante Fe Institute's collection of foundational papers in complexity science, highlighting key historical works by Friedrich Hayek, Warren Weaver, and Herbert Simon.

• The History of Complexity P2
  Additional brief thoughts on complexity science history.

• Why "Complexity" Science is Poorly Named
  Evaluating a Sante Fe Institute co-founder’s critiques of Complexity Science.

• The Complexity-Systems Divide
  Introducing a few conceptual and practical differences between the fields of complexity and systems science.

• Reflections on Science and Complexity
  Reflecting on a foundational paper in the study of complex systems.

• Exploring Wonderland
  Highlighting a series that creatively explores complex systems concepts through metaphor.

3. Historical Traditions & Key Figures + Organizations

The intellectual history and evolution of systems research

• On Hayek and Bertalanffy
  Analysis of the intellectual connection between Friedrich Hayek and systems theorist Ludwig von Bertalanffy.

• Hayek's System-Theoretic Social Theory
  Examination of the direct influence of Bertalanffy’s systems concepts on Hayek's economic and social theories.

• Looking Backwards to Revitalize Systems Science
  The importance of understanding the history of systems research to meaningfully influence its present and future.

• The Systems Sages
  Profiling seven influential systems thinkers spanning multiple generations, from Ludwig von Bertalanffy and NorbertWiener to contemporary figures like Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin.

• Notes on Bell Labs
  Historical analysis of Bell Labs' systems-oriented research approaches.

• Notes on Xerox PARC
  Historical analysis of Xerox PARC's systems innovation approach and impact.

• Notes on Protocol Labs
  Identifying useful lessons modern systems researchers can learn from this research organization's structure and approach.

• Notes on Von Foerster's Notes
  Reflection on Von Foerster's epistemological approach to living systems, exploring his ideas about observation and knowledge creation.

• Notes on General System Theory
  Personal notes on Bertalanffy's foundational work on general system theory.

4. Applied Systems Research

Real-world applications across domains, including socio-technical systems and cryptoeconomic applications

• What is a Cryptoeconomic System?
  Defining and characterizing cryptoeconomic systems.

• The Value of Cryptoeconomic Systems
  Arguing that cryptoeconomic systems are uniquely valuable for systems science research because of their permissionless, transparent, open-source, and programmable nature.

• Bitcoin's Emergent Properties
  Framing Bitcoin as a complex adaptive system with emergent properties.

• Measuring Complexity in Blockchain Systems
  A research framework for quantifying complexity in blockchain systems.

• Cryptoeconomics in the Second Era of Trump
  Discussion of how the Trump administration’s policies are likely to influence the development and adoption of cryptoeconomic systems.

• Complex Webs of Power
  Network science applied to study geopolitical dynamics and hegemony in the 21st century.

• The Power of Prediction Market Systems
  Introducing the concept of prediction markets and their information aggregation capabilities.

• Economic Systems as Processes
  Introducing a process-oriented and algorithmic perspective on economic systems and their dynamics.

• Markets & Society
  Highlighting a new academic journal in political economy.

• Seeing Cities as Systems
  Introducing a powerful tool for applied systems work in local government.

• Thoughts on the U.S. Political System
  A systems perspective on American political structures and dynamics.

• Systems Science and Artificial Intelligence
  Exploring the relationship between systems science and AI development.

• Why Conduct a Systems Analysis of Bitcoin?
  Rationale for applying systems science methodology to Bitcoin.

• Collecting Data on Cryptoeconomic Systems
  Exploring methodological approaches for gathering and analyzing cryptoeconomic data.

• Will Blockchains Dream of Electric Sheep?
  Speculative exploration of emergent intelligence in blockchain systems.

• Transcending the von Neumann Architecture?
  Engaging with von Neumann’s thoughts on the study of self-reproduction and their relevance for modern computing.

5. Methods, Tools & Learning

Research approaches combined with teaching and communication

• Distinguishing Basic and Applied Science
  Discussing why systems science needs to distinguish between balance curiosity-driven basic research and problem-solving applied research.

• Comparing Methods in Systems Research
  Comparative and contrasting the empirical and deductive approaches to theoretical systems science.

• Humanistic Systems Research
  Highlighting Bertalanffy's vision of systems research that centers human individuals rather than technological efficiency.

• Humanistic Systems Research (Part II)
  Further exploration of Bertalanffy’s human-centered systems approach.

• Reflections on The Role of Models in Science
  Reflecting on the role of modeling and modelers in scientific inquiry.

• On Agents and Architectures
  Exploring the question of where to place our focus when studying systems — the agents, or the structure they are embedded in.

• Exploring New Systems for Scientific Research
  Introducing ResearchHub as an innovative system for facilitating scientific research.

• Documentation
  The importance of documentation in systems work and research.

• How I'm Using ChatGPT
  Personal experience using ChatGPT as a research assistant, content editor, and software engineering tool.

• Systematic Self-Exploration
  Exploring how a systems approach might be applied to personal development.

• From Principles to Analysis
  Introducing a framework for conducting rigorous systems analysis from foundational principles.

• Pathways to Mathematical Systems Theory
  A syllabus for applying mathematical approaches like set theory and graph theory to systems analysis.

• Decoding A Black Box
  Exploring techniques for understanding opaque or complex systems without internal access.

• Exploring Networked Leadership
  Exploring different styles of leadership within networked organizations.

• A Research Update
  Video presentation on measuring complexity in cryptoeconomic systems research methods

6. Personal Content and Reflections

Personal reflections and community updates

• Welcome to Systems Explorers
  Introduction to the newsletter's purpose, focus on systems science, and community-building goals.

• The State of System Explorers
  Reflection on the newsletter's first ten weeks, lessons learned about writing on systems topics, and plans for future content and community building.

• My Hopes for the ISSS
  My desire to see greater collaboration, unification, and positive vision within the International Society for the Systems Sciences.

• Back to School
  Personal update on pursuing academic studies in systems science.

• (What I remember from) Xerox PARC
  A poem reflecting on my childhood experiences at the influential research center.

• Towards Truly Open AI Systems
  Ditching Open AI and ChatGPT out of a desire to move towards truly open artificial intelligence systems.

• Living with Broken Systems
  Personal reflections on the reality of living within failing systems.

• Systems Fail
  Reflecting on my personal experience post Hurricane Helene.

• Grappling with Chaos
  Reflecting on my experience in North Carolina post Hurricane Helene.

• A Pause
  Announcement of a brief hiatus in newsletter publication.

• Hope
  Reflections on feeling inspired and hopeful after a conference.

• Delegation
  Reflecting on the importance of delegation when working with groups.

• RFK Jr. and Systemic Change
  Reflections on the role of RFK. Jr. in U.S. political discourse.

• My Reading List for 2024
  Curated selection of recommended books and resources for systems research.

• An Abstract
  Research paper abstract on studying Bitcoin with systems scientific methods.

• Best of System Explorers: Part One
  Collection of highlighted posts from the newsletter's first period.

• Best of System Explorers: Part Two
  Continuation of curated highlights from the newsletter archive.

• Welcoming New Subscribers
  Introduction and orientation for new community members.

• Computational Tools and Modern Complexity Theory
  Overview of a school course focused on digital tools and methodologies for complexity research.

• Surveying System Explorers
  Surveying user interests and preferences.

• Join the system explorers chat
  Information about participating in the community discussion platform.