CRITICAL EVENT
Charles François (2004). CRITICAL EVENT, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 756.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 756 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
An event “which occurs at a point of instability” (I. PRIGOGINE and P.M. ALLEN, 1978, p.48).
Such an event would be of little consequence in a homeostatic system adapting within its normal limits of stability. However, in far from equilibrium ones, even a very slight “push” can tip the system out of its stability range and bring on considerable consequences without any relation with its believed lack of importance. Turning points in history are frequently critical events. An example is the “Boston tea party”, which ignited the American Revolution.