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Abstract systems theory. (English) Zbl 0679.93001

Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, 116. Berlin etc.: Springer-Verlag. viii, 439 p. DM 98.00 (1989).
The title of this book is Abstract Systems Theory, and the objects of study are general systems. The authors avoid the use of the term “general system”, claiming that it implies softer deliberations. The reviewer does not agree in this respect with the authors, since there are many hard mathematical treatises in general systems theory(e.g. Klir’s work on the architecture of systems).
This book is a hard mathematical treatise, and the casual reader in systems theory will be put off by the extensive mathematical presentations. If the book included more softer deliberations and more real world examples, it would be more readable and appeal to a wider audience.
Aside from the above criticism, the book is an excellent work in systems theory. Definitions and theory are similar to those found in general systems. The book examines basic systems concepts and attributes of systems. In particular, there is extensive treatment of goal seeking systems, abstract time systems, and complexity of systems. The book presents complete mathematical structuring of topics. That is, appropriate abstractions are provided, and then developed to the point of applications. The mathematics are rigorous and correct. In summary, this is a difficult book, but one that should appeal to the hard core mathematical systems theorist.
Reviewer: B.Jones

MSC:

93-02 Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to systems and control theory
93A10 General systems
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