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# On the Concept of a System

## Details

**Authors** Marchal

**Year** 1975

**Publisher** Philosophy of Science

**Discipline** Philosophy

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1086/288641) 
10.1086/288641

## In authors' words

### What they set out to do (purpose)

Explores a concept of systems.

### What they found (results)

He explained that while the actual word “system” can have multiple meanings, the most important form of it is as a structural term. It’s important to note that systems are “conceptualized differently by different investigators.” In other words, the structure of a system will be different when looked at from different perspectives.“We certainly distinguish between, and are interested in, different kinds of systems, for example, nervous systems, number systems, and betting systems. The question is, do these distinctions between kinds of systems warrant, or require, parallel distinctions among senses of 'system', each with its correspondingly different concept of a system?” Importantly, Marchal’s definition of a system is: “ S is a system only if S is a set of related elements.”

## Commentary

### In short

Marchal is essentially drawing a line between Distinctions and Systems for us. One is able to turn a system into a distinction, and Marchal acknowledges later that systems are also made up of distinctions. herefore, the word ‘system’ implies a set (S) of interconnected (R) components (D). It is important to note that Marchal is implying that the Relationships themselves are also to be counted as components of the system. This article excellently demonstrates the interconnections between the patterns of mind, as in order for one to Systematize, they have to Relate and make Distinctions.

### In more detail

The concept of a system is one of the most powerful and important ideas in science and the real world, and therefore, getting a general concept of systems is a high priority. Marchal, 1975 explored the concept of a system. He explained that while the actual word “system” can have multiple meanings, the most important form of it is as a structural term. It can also be used in the form of an activity one does (i.e., doing something systematically). It’s important to note that systems are “conceptualized differently by different investigators.” In other words, the structure of a system will be different when looked at from different perspectives. Also, Marchal writes, “We certainly distinguish between, and are interested in, different kinds of systems, for example, nervous systems, number systems, and betting systems. The question is, do these distinctions between kinds of systems warrant, or require, parallel distinctions among senses of 'system', each with its correspondingly different concept of a system?”

Marchal is essentially drawing a line between Distinctions and Systems for us. One is able to turn a system into a distinction, and Marchal acknowledges later that systems are also made up of distinctions. “We can distinguish between things if some feature of one is not had by the other. The distinctions that we bother to draw rest on our interests.” Importantly, Marchal’s definition of a system is: “S is a system only if S is a set of related elements.” Therefore, the word ‘system’ implies a set (S) of interconnected (R) components (D). It is important to note that Marchal is implying that the Relationships themselves are also to be counted as components of the system. This article excellently demonstrates the interconnections between the patterns of mind, as in order for one to Systematize, they have to Relate and make Distinctions.

**Patterns it shows** D, S, R

**How to cite this** Marchal (1975). On the Concept of a System. Philosophy of Science.