Source: The Functions of the Executive (1938), p. 98-99, footnote
“A living system, due to its circular organization, is an inductive system and functions always in a predictive manner: what happened once will occur again. Its organization, (genetic and otherwise) is conservative and repeats only that which works. For this same reason living systems are historical systems; the relevance of a given conduct or mode of behavior is always determined in the past.”
Source: Biology of Cognition (1970), p. 26-27.
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Humberto Maturana 14
Chilean biologist and philosopher 1928Related quotes
Source: Principles of Systems (1968), p. 4-1 as cited in: Richardson, George P. " Reflections on the foundations of system dynamics http://obssr.od.nih.gov/issh/2012/files/Richardson%202011.pdf." System Dynamics Review 27.3 (2011): 219-243.
Daniel Katz (1964) ""The motivational basis of organizational behavior". In: Behavioral science, 1964. p. 132

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Source: Living Systems: Basic Concepts (1969), p. 51; Opening paragraph
James McGovern, Scott W. Ambler and M. E Stevens (2004) A Practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture. p. 35

Talcott Parsons (1968) "Systems Analysis: Social Systems" in: David L. Sills ed. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. p. 472
James G. and Jessie Miller (1999) Principles of Quantitative Living Systems Science. Foreword; As cited in: James R. Simms (2013) "Advances in living systems theory"

“The economic system is, in effect, a mere function of social organization.”
The Great Transformation (1944), Ch. 4 : Societies and Economic Systems