Glossary

Foundational terms for systems thinking — formal definitions grounded in Mobus & Kalton and Bunge, with links to deeper explorations.

Systems Science — the transdisciplinary study of systems as such

The Basics

• System — the fundamental unit of analysis
• Boundary — what separates inside from outside
• Environment — everything outside the boundary

The Parts

• Component — distinct parts performing functions
• Subsystem — components that are themselves systems
• Interface — where exchanges happen

The Dynamics

• Flow — movement of matter, energy, messages
• State — system configuration at a moment
• Feedback Loop — circular causality
• Adaptation — self-modification in response to change

The Patterns

• Structure — how components are organized
• Function — what systems do
• Emergence — wholes with properties parts lack

Applied Domains

Systems thinking applied to specific fields of study.

Cryptoeconomics

Economic coordination through cryptographic protocols.

Foundations:

• Blockchain — distributed ledger of cryptographically linked blocks
• Decentralization — distribution of control across components
• Node — participant components in the network
• Hash — cryptographic fingerprints enabling integrity
• Validator — nodes participating in consensus

Mechanisms:

• Consensus Mechanism — distributed agreement on state
• Tokenomics — economic design of token flows
• Mechanism Design — engineering incentive structures
• Smart Contract — autonomous on-chain subsystems
• Protocol — rules defining system boundaries

Neuromorphics

Brain-inspired computing architectures.

Components:

• Neuron — fundamental processing unit
• Synapse — connection between neurons
• Spike — discrete event carrying information
• Memristor — memory and processing unified

Architectures:

• Spiking Neural Network — computation through discrete events
• Neuromorphic Hardware — physical neural substrates
• Event-Driven Processing — computation triggered by events
• In-Memory Computing — processing where data is stored

Learning:

• Temporal Coding — information in spike timing
• Synaptic Plasticity — adaptive connection strengths

Political Economy

Governance, institutions, and collective action.

Foundations:

• Institution — stable structures of rules and norms
• Property Rights — defining who can use resources
• Market — coordination through prices
• Nation-State — territorial governance monopoly

Resources:

• Commons — shared rivalrous resources
• Public Goods — non-rivalrous, non-excludable resources

Dynamics:

• Governance — collective decision-making
• Collective Action — coordination problems
• Polycentric Governance — nested decision centers
• Spontaneous Order — emergent coordination

See also: Glossary on main site for a quick reference.