I’m pleased to share the publication of my latest paper:
The Ontology of Randomness, Structure and Information
This paper is the third in a series on General Systems Theory. It develops a clear, physically grounded account of how patterns arise in reality, addressing a fundamental question:
👉 Why does the world exhibit recurring structure rather than remaining a field of transient variation?
The paper introduces and systematically distinguishes four key concepts:
- configuration — the arrangement of entities in space-time
- randomness — non-recurring variation in configuration
- structure — configuration with causal connectivity
- information — recurring structure
A central claim is that recurrence requires causality, establishing structure as a necessary condition for information and grounding pattern in causally organised processes rather than in arrangement alone.
The aim, as with earlier papers, is not to add complexity, but to clarify foundational concepts and provide a consistent basis for understanding pattern and information across physical, biological, and social domains.
The paper is available via the following links:
🔗 Academia: https://www.academia.edu/166175568/The_Ontology_of_Randomness_Structure_and_Information
🔗 Website: https://rational-understanding.com/efgst
Alongside the paper, I have also added a new set of course modules to the General Systems Theory (GST) course. These modules correspond to the concepts developed in the paper and are designed to make them accessible through:
- plain-English explanations
- diagrams
- practical exercises
The course materials are available in two ways:
🔗 Open access (self-paced): https://rational-understanding.com/gst-course/
🔗 Supported learning: via Google Classroom through the ISSS Student SIG
Those in full-time or part-time education are especially encouraged to join the Student SIG, where they can benefit from guidance by experienced systems scientists, discussion with fellow learners, and access to a wider international community. To join go to: https://isss.org
I hope these resources are useful to those interested in systems theory.
#SystemsScience #GeneralSystemsTheory #Complexity #Cybernetics #Information #PhilosophyOfScience #Education
Rational-Understanding.com 