[ganzuul]

Nobody knows what you mean when you downvote an on-topic post. You have to say something, else you only cause confusion.

Back on topic:

Systems theory seems to basically be object-oriented, meaning it sometimes has problems dealing with self-reference. This should not be a problem for most practical applications but for things like ecological dynamics the complexity is not user friendly.

Cybernetics seems to be a function-oriented approach to the same problem class. It deals with feedback loops as first-order citizens, which in complex ecosystems like desktop operating systems means it has less of a conceptual impedance mismatch.

The former is the popular discipline while the latter fell out of favor decades ago. Perhaps it is time to dust it off.

[aiisjustanif]

I didn’t downvote? I upvoted OP and the parent comment. It was all very insightful.

[ganzuul]

Excuse me it wasn't directed at you. People seem to use the downvote function to say they disagree, or don't understand, but that leaves the poster completely in the dark about what they think the problem is. I find it counterproductive and frustrating.

[ganzuul]

Absurd. Perplexing. Truly these people are mad.