Systémique

Systémique is a French term used to describe approaches and analyses that treat entities as structured wholes rather than as assemblies of isolated parts. It emphasizes interdependencies, feedback, adaptation, and the emergence of properties that cannot be understood by examining components in isolation. The concept aligns with general systems theory and cybernetics, and is closely associated with the idea that complex problems require holistic rather than purely reductionist explanations.

Origin and scope: In French-speaking discourse, systémique covers diverse fields including social sciences, management, ecology, medicine, psychology, and engineering. It emerged in the 20th century alongside general systems theory, anchored by thinkers such as Ludwig von Bertalanffy and Norbert Wiener, and was disseminated through interdisciplinary studies and practical methodologies.

Key concepts: core notions include holism, open systems, boundaries and interfaces, feedback and control, self-organization, and emergence. Systems are viewed as networks of elements that influence each other over time, with behavior shaped by structure, information, and context.

Methods and applications: methodological tools include system mapping, causal loop diagrams, system dynamics modeling, and network analysis. In practice, systémique informs systemic therapy in psychology and family therapy, organizational development and strategic planning, environmental and urban planning, and policy design.

Critique: despite broad applicability, criticisms point to vagueness, difficulties in defining boundaries, and challenges in operationalizing models without oversimplification or overfitting.

See also: general systems theory, systems thinking, cybernetics, holism, systemic therapy.