Linguistic Modelling of Scenarios

In his new book Linguistic Modelling of Scenarios: The means of paradigm change from the systemic view to systems science, Janos Korn explains how a view can be converted into a science which can lead to a possibility of ‘organised speculation’ or simulation of behaviour, exploring the effects of variation of parameters on performance, and the occurrence of outcomes of operations, beneficial or not, of dynamic structures. Static and dynamic structures are expressed in more rigorous and computable terms so that the results of analysis and design of human activity scenarios could be exposed to at least thought experiments.

According to the author, current approaches to the systemic view of parts of the world, in particular human activity scenarios, are by and large ‘speculative’, ‘descriptive’, ‘lack of unifying fundamentals’ and are supplemented by ‘modelling techniques, mostly without underlying coherent symbolism’. Korn’s two previous books, Science and Design of Systems and Network Modelling of Engineering Systems, introduced the basic principles of the ‘structural’ or ‘systemic view’, describing the use of processed natural language and the symbolism of ‘linguistic modelling’, supplemented by aspects of mathematics. His third and newest book develops the idea that in order to make an impact on society and education as conventional science of physics has done, the ‘systemic view’ needs to be turned into ‘systems science’, or a paradigm change is needed.

“Although restricted in application and domain dependent, conventional science has been immensely successful in influencing the lives, thinking and education of people. Systems science, unrestricted in application and domain independent, may yet prove to have a similar effect,” Janos Korn comments on the inspiration behind writing this book.

Linguistic Modelling of Scenarios attempts to offer an alternative approach for debate which, if proved acceptable by passing the test of debate and application, may lead to a resolution of issues seen as problematic in the ‘systems phenomemon’.