Language, Labeling, and the Understanding of Systems

    

 Labeling is a core component of understanding complex systems. Labeling provides the necessary conceptual and linguistic foundation in order for understanding and comprehension of that system to be developed in a human mind. 

     We think in words and language, so labeling is a necessary and essential component of understanding. A label is an assignment of a word or sometimes a number or code to an object, situation, circumstance, game, idea, or, for the context of this post, a system that we can then construct and develop an understanding of the these things. 

Systems are labeled in two ways. The label of the big picture "system as a whole," and the labels of the parts of the system. The more you can label the parts of a system, define the properties of those parts, describe and define the interactions and relationships, these parts have with other parts or their environments, describe the functions of parts of the system, and describe the purpose of both the system as a whole, the more well-rounded and complete of an understanding you have of that system. 

    However, the more complex the system is, like a brain or a quantum computer, the more difficult it is to bridge the understanding of the parts of the system with with the "big picture" holistic understanding of the system as a whole.

     Just like there is abstract information and concrete information, there are abstract systems based on abstract information and ideas and there are concrete (physical) systems.  There are a diverse array of both kinds of systems. 

     Examples of concrete systems would be a brain, an engine, or any system based on matter and energy. Examples of abstract systems are ideologies, religions, philosophies, or belief systems of many kinds.

    Abstract systems often lead to concrete physical systems. Man-made concrete systems often start out as abstract concepts. 

The foundation of many human systems like governments, societies, corporations, and institutions are almost always abstract systems based on ideas like ideologies and belief systems.

        The same process of understanding concrete physical system by labeling its parts and the functions, properties, and relationships of those parts of that system and attempting to come to a holistic understanding of the system is the same method of understanding abstract systems.

          It just operates a little differently with abstract systems since abstract systems are a little more fluid, ambiguous, uncertain, and often can fall into the trap of deception a little more easily because of uncertainty. A faulty physical system doesn't lie. A faulty belief system can be quite deceptive and at the very least easily misunderstood.

     Even so, the necessity of labeling both parts of physical systems as well as abstract systems remains essential for understanding, comprehension, and application of the system.

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