Biomatrix Systems Theory is a fractal, process-based, integrative, wholistic meta-systems theory that describes the organising principles of systems of nature and society (i.e: systems of the naturo-sphere, psycho-socio-sphere and techno-sphere):​

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• FRACTAL means that the organising principles repeat themselves at different systemic levels and in different contexts.

• PROCESS-BASED implies that the underlying reality of life’s systems is process (or activity, or flow of substance).

• INTEGRATIVE means that the organising principles influence systems to form coherent wholes.

• W/HOLISTIC means that the theory describes the organising principles of whole systems (and differentiates them from incomplete systems and system-like phenomena) and the tendency of systems to form larger wholes, which J.C. Smuts (Holism and Evolution. Macmillan.1926 ) referred to as holism.

• META-SYSTEMS THEORY implies that the core concepts of various general system models and theories are integrated into a coherent and internally consistent theory. This integration is possible due to unique conceptual contributions like that of the biomatrix and its different types of systems.
   

The theory describes the natural organising principles that need to be adhered to in the (re)design of systems to ensure their sustainable and more desirable development, and avoid the emergence of systemic problems.

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Origin of the Biomatrix Systems Theory and Methodology.

​​The core concepts of Biomatrix Systems Theory were formulated by Járos and Cloete and published in 1987 (Biomatrix: The web of life. World Futures, 23:215-236).

 

The theory was fleshed out in the course of a PhD Program at the University of Cape Town, South Africa by the multi-disciplinary Biomatrix Research Group (consisting of Anacreon Cloete, Elisabeth Dostal, Lynn Edwards and Linda Muller under the tutorship and leadership of György Járos) and other researches who participated in different projects (see list of scientific articles).

It was formalised in a PhD by A.Cloete in 1999 (The Biomatrix model: The development and formalisation of a general systems model. University of Cape Town).

 

The theory can be explored in the Links below.

Why is Biomatrix Systems Theory needed?

Systems thinking (or w/holistic thinking) is the worldview of the information age. It extends the reductionist paradigm of the industrial age on which our legacy education, energy, medical, finance, democracy, and other systems are based.

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To transform those systems requires a new worldview, because:

• “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when creating them” (A. Einstein)

• “The logic of the problem is not the logic of the solution” (E. Dostal)

Biomatrix Systems Theory is a w/holistic systems theory (i.e: it distinguishes whole systems from systems that are not wholes.) It is derived from the observation of how systems in nature are organised.

 

Humans are organically part of a 4.5-billion-year-old complex biosphere: Earth. Its natural organising principles are so advanced - it has outgrown our civilisations over - and will continue to do so for centuries to come. We can extract and abuse until there is nothing left to sustain us, but when we leave, it will revive as if we were never here.

 

By understanding nature's elegant, efficient and intelligent organising principles, we can also apply them to redesign and transform our current systems towards a more wholesome functioning.

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