A Discussion on Basic Notions

What do basic notions in systems and ecology mean? Several papers in this book propose specific ways of viewing systems (in particular ecological systems) and offer definitions and notions related to their proposed views. These often very compact “conceptual models” aim at providing a means to understand the behavior and evolution of real-world systems, be they economic, social, or ecological. The way real-world systems are viewed by people and politicians influences considerably how humanity deals with their natural surroundings and how they may decide to act in an ecologically favorable direction, given the fact that humanity’s actions obviously have major significance for the global earth’s well-being. The proposed conceptual models used by various authors in this book differ considerably from each other, making a discussion of their respective merits and shortcomings very meaningful. Six authors joined in the discussion, proposing, supporting, or criticizing points of view and aiming at clarifying the notions they use, while putting them in perspective. The discussion has been ordered as a question and answers session around the main themes. We hope readers will enjoy the clash of ideas and develop further insights motivated by them.