[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Systems and Distinctions; Duality and Complementarity

## Details

**Authors** Goguen and Varela

**Year** 2007

**Publisher** International Journal Of General Systems

**Discipline** Philosophy

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1080/03081070601033171) 
10.1080/03081070601033171

## In authors' words

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

To look at the concepts of systems and distinctions and how they function and relate.

### What they found (results)

It is evident that different people find it convenient to divide the world in different ways, and even one person will be interested in different systems at different times.” This connects Distinctions (dividing the world is the same as Distinction-making), Systems, Relationships (the interconnections between them), and Perspectives (they clearly state that each person will have their own perspective on D,S, and R, and that the Perspectives can change depending on the context). In terms of Distinctions, they stated that distinctions are one of the most fundamental processes that humans do. They also noted that Distinctions work in tandem with Perspectives, with individuals making different Distinctions based on their intent, context, and individuality. They also wrote that, “The properties of a system emerge from the interactions of its components.” Relationships are therefore another essential part of human thinking/being. They posit that a System can be part of another larger system, and that a System can be part of another even larger System, and so on.

## Commentary

### In short

There is no whole system without an interconnection of its parts; and there is no whole system without an environment. Such pairs are mutually interdependent: each defines the other. DSRP is real.

### In more detail

Another paper that goes into the elements D, S, R, P, as a whole theory is Goguen and Varela 1979: Systems and Distinctions; Duality and Complementarity. They write in the introduction that, “It is evident that different people find it convenient to divide the world in different ways, and even one person will be interested in different systems at different times.” This connects Distinctions (dividing the world is the same as Distinction-making), Systems, Relationships (the interconnections between them), and Perspectives (they clearly state that each person will have their own perspective on D, S, and R, and that the Perspectives can change depending on the context). In terms of Distinctions, they stated that distinctions are one of the most fundamental processes that humans do. They also noted that Distinctions work in tandem with Perspectives, with individuals making different Distinctions based on their intent, context, and individuality. They also wrote that, “The properties of a system emerge from the interactions of its components.” Relationships are therefore another essential part of human thinking/being. They posit that a System can be part of another larger system, and that a System can be part of another even larger System, and so on. “There is no whole system without an interconnection of its parts; and there is no whole system without an environment. Such pairs are mutually interdependent: each defines the other.”

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

**How to cite this** Goguen and Varela (2007). Systems and Distinctions; Duality and Complementarity. International Journal Of General Systems.