Systems Thinking

Discussions center on systems thinking, complex systems theory, and challenges in understanding or managing highly complex systems that exceed human cognitive limits, with frequent references to Systemantics, complex adaptive systems, and system dynamics.

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Keywords

aeon.co researchgate.net en.m fleen.org pinterest.com unintendedconsequenc.es wikipedia.org systems complex complex systems complexity feedback thinking buffers theory loops understand

Sample Comments

jdlshore Aug 16, 2025 View on HN

Take a look at Systems Thinking: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_thinking

cwmma Nov 27, 2023 View on HN

Sounds like your describing complex systems thoery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_system

golergka Apr 6, 2015 View on HN

I think that it's because we don't yet have appropriate mental models to think about systems of such complexity.

wvlia5 Sep 13, 2025 View on HN

Could you quote a non-trivial "systems thinking" theorem or tool such that, by knowing it, I will be able to solve a problem I couldn't solve before?

eugenejen Jan 12, 2017 View on HN

how about the possibility that the whole system's complexity outgrow our abilities to manage the system for the moment?

discarded1023 Apr 10, 2023 View on HN

Indeed! Gall's SYSTEMANTICS [1] is worth a read in its entirety.[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemantics

leet_thow Feb 14, 2023 View on HN

The study of Complex Adaptive Systems can provide a lot of insight.

this-that May 30, 2017 View on HN

Could this be related?System Dynamicshttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_dynamics

paulorlando Jan 10, 2020 View on HN

If you're interested to learn about systems and complexity in a humanities style: https://unintendedconsequenc.es/blog/

pookha Jan 19, 2023 View on HN

Large complex systems don't work.