Razumijevanje sistema: Od Bertalanffyja do Ortege y Gasseta
Understanding the System: From Bertalanffy to Ortega y Gasset

Summary/Abstract: The beginning of the 20th century was marked by deep disturbances of grounds on which all the knowledge, accumulated during past three centuries within progress of science and technics started in the 17th century, was established. Two names are, among others, significant for this process – Ludwig von Bertalanffy and José Ortega y Gasset. Over two different perspectives, this paper shows almost simultaneous endeavors of two scientists, two intellectuals, who have brought theories, with the aid of many of their predecessors (as well as contemporaries) that were the source of inspiration for them, in many ways different from the dominant epoch in which they lived and created. The common denominator for Bertlanffy and Ortega y Gasset in this paper is the notion of system, which will be delineated from both perspectives in order to finally draw parallels and note similarities (as well as differences) of philosophical thought of one and the other. Within this work, system is, in a broadest sense, principle by which life occurs and carries out, for Bertalanffy observed primarily from a biological perspective, and for Ortega y Gasset from a historical one.

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