--- title: "System: Semantic network" source: "https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System:_Semantic_network" wiki: "systems-analysis.info/eng" article: "System:_Semantic_network" language: "en" categories: - "Category:English" - "Category:Science" - "Category:Semantic network" - "Category:System" revision_id: 355 wiki_created_at: 2026-09-06T22:22:31Z wiki_modified_at: 2026-09-06T22:22:31Z downloaded_at: 2026-09-07T22:22:55Z --- # System: Semantic network ## Basic Definitions of a System - **A system consists of elements** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[consists of\]→ [Element](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_element "System element") (*has‑part*, part–whole) - **A system has connections** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[includes\]→ [Connection](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Connections_in_systems "Connections in systems") (*has‑part*, part–whole) - **A system has a structure** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ [Structure](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_structure "System structure") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system possesses integrity** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ [Integrity](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_integrity "System integrity") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system is limited by a boundary** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ [Boundary](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_boundary "System boundary") (*has‑part*, part–whole) - **A system exists within an environment** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is located in\]→ [Environment](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_environment "System environment") (*located‑in*, location) - **A system has inputs** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ Input (*has‑part*, part–whole) - **A system has outputs** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ Output (*has‑part*, part–whole) - **A system interacts with its environment** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ Interaction with the environment (*participates‑in*, participation in a process) - **A system has a goal** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ [Goal](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Goal "Goal") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system performs a function** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[performs\]→ [Function](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Function "Function") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system is organized hierarchically** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is organized as\]→ [Hierarchical structure](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Hierarchy "Hierarchy") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system is part of a supersystem** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is part of\]→ Supersystem (*part‑of*, part–whole) ## Dynamics and Lifecycle - **A system has a state** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ [State](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_state "System state") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system exhibits behavior** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[exhibits\]→ [Behavior](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_behavior "System behavior") (*has‑property*, property) - **A system develops** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ [Development](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_development "System development") (*participates‑in*, process) - **A system evolves** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ Evolution (*participates‑in*, process) - **A system undergoes a lifecycle** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ Lifecycle (*participates‑in*, process) ## Emergent Effects - **A system exhibits synergy** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Synergy (*has‑property*, property) - **A system possesses holism** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Holism (*has‑property*, property) - **A system demonstrates a systemic effect** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Systemic effect (*has‑property*, property) - **A system demonstrates a superadditive effect** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Superadditive effect (*has‑property*, property) ## Inter-level Influences - **A supersystem influences a system** — Supersystem \[influences\]→ [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") (*affects*, inter-level influence) - **A system influences subsystems** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[influences\]→ [Subsystem](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Subsystem "Subsystem") (*affects*, inter-level influence) - **A system influences elements** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[influences\]→ [Element](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_element "System element") (*affects*, influence of the whole on its parts) ## Classification Attributes (Categorical Principle) ### By Number of Components - **A system is single-component** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Single-component system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is multi-component** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Multi-component system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Dynamics - **A system is static** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Static system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is dynamic** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Dynamic system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is functioning** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Functioning system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Exchange with the Environment - **A system is open** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Open system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is closed** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Closed system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is isolated** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Isolated system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Predictability/Causality - **A system is deterministic** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Deterministic system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is probabilistic** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Probabilistic system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Homogeneity of Composition - **A system is homogeneous** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Homogeneous system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is heterogeneous** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Heterogeneous system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Representation (Discreteness) - **A system is discrete** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Discrete system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is continuous** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Continuous system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Degree of Organization - **A system is well-organized** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Well-organized system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is poorly-organized** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Poorly-organized system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is diffuse** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Diffuse system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is developing** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Developing system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is self-organizing** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Self-organizing system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Origin - **A system is natural** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Natural system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is artificial** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Artificial system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is mixed (by origin)** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Mixed system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ### By Materiality - **A system is physical** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Physical system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is conceptual** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Conceptual system (*is‑a*, genus–species) - **A system is functional** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is a\]→ Functional system (*is‑a*, genus–species) ## Law of Requisite Variety (Ashby) - **A system possesses a variety of states** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ Variety of states (*has‑property*, property) - **The variety of a system corresponds to the variety of disturbances** — System's variety \[corresponds to\]→ Variety of disturbances (*requirement/constraint*) ## Epistemology and Modeling - **A system is represented by a model** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is described by\]→ [Model](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Model "Model") (*has‑property*, representation) - **A system is represented by a mathematical model** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is described by\]→ [Mathematical model](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Mathematical_model "Mathematical model") (*has‑property*, representation) - **An observer defines a system** — Observer \[defines\]→ [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") (*causes*, causal influence) - **The research goal determines the system boundaries** — Research goal \[influences\]→ [Boundary](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System_boundary "System boundary") (*causes*, causal influence) - **The definition of a system depends on the domain of knowledge** — [Definition of a system](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Definitions_of_a_system "Definitions of a system") \[depends on\]→ Domain of knowledge (*caused‑by*, conditioned by) - **The definition of a system depends on the level of abstraction** — [Definition of a system](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Definitions_of_a_system "Definitions of a system") \[depends on\]→ Level of abstraction (*caused‑by*, conditioned by) ## Spatio-temporal Localization and Identity - **A system is bounded in time** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[has\]→ Temporal boundary (*has‑part*, part–whole) - **A system is localized in space** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is located in\]→ Spatial region (*located‑in*, location) - **A system possesses an identity** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Identity (*has‑property*, property) ## Cybernetic Representation and Transformations - **A system transforms inputs into outputs** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ Transformation of inputs into outputs (*participates‑in*, process) - **A system is represented as a "black box"** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is described as\]→ [Black box model](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Black_box "Black box") (*has‑property*, representation) - **A system operates on information** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[operates on\]→ Information (*participates‑in*, process) - **A system operates on energy** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[operates on\]→ Energy (*participates‑in*, process) - **A system operates on matter** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[operates on\]→ Matter (*participates‑in*, process) ## Integration, Cooperation, and Stability of Relations - **A system possesses integratedness** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Integratedness (*has‑property*, property) - **A system facilitates cooperation among elements** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[facilitates\]→ Cooperation of elements (*causes*, causal influence) - **A system has stable relations between elements** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[possesses\]→ Stability of relations (*has‑property*, property) ## Activity and Management Aspects - **A system participates in decision-making** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ [Decision-making](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Decision-making "Decision-making") (*participates‑in*, process) - **A system participates in management** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[participates in\]→ [Management](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/Management "Management") (*participates‑in*, process) ## Logical-Philosophical Formulations - **A system is defined by relations on a set** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is defined by\]→ Relations on a set (*caused‑by*, defined/conditioned by) - **A system is defined by the properties of objects** — [System](https://systems-analysis.info/eng/System "System") \[is defined by\]→ Properties of objects (*caused‑by*, defined/conditioned by)