Bertalanffy

Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901–1972) was an Austrian biologist and philosopher of science whose work helped establish general systems theory. Born in Vienna, he pursued biology and theoretical biology and became a leading proponent of a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to understanding complex phenomena.

General system theory (GST) is the umbrella of his efforts. It seeks universal principles applicable to systems of all kinds—biological, mechanical, social—emphasizing the interconnectedness of components, feedback, and emergent properties. Bertalanffy argued that living organisms are open systems that exchange matter and energy with their environment, a perspective that challenged purely reductionist explanations.

Growth modeling: He introduced the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF), a mathematical model widely used to describe organism growth. The model frames growth as a balance between assimilation and maintenance costs, producing a sigmoidal growth curve approaching a finite asymptotic size. It is widely used in fisheries science and biology to fit growth data for fish and other animals.

Legacy: Bertalanffy's general systems theory influenced disciplines beyond biology, including cybernetics, management theory, and social sciences, fostering interdisciplinary research and systems thinking. His work remains a reference point for efforts to understand complex, interconnected systems.