GOALS (Variable)
Charles François (2004). GOALS (Variable), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1445.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1445 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
The different but compatible goals that coexist and generally enhance each other in a complex system.
Variable goals are a characteristic of complex systems, which are not confined to the sequence stimulus-response, nor even to some binary or dichotomous control.
The autonomous complex system, being equifinal, is able to chose among a number of possible intermediate goals the one that best suits its global stability, and becomes a kind of superseding general goal, acting as a selector of convenient intermediate ones.