Organismic Set Theory and Relational Biology

Organismic sets ($OS^n$ ) were defined by Nicolas Rashevsky as simple set-theoretical models of organization in living organisms at discrete integer or zero levels by means of sets of several distinct types or order beginning at the zeroth order, and having an upper limit as the fifth or sixth order of roganization. Thus, in the case of organismic sets of zero-th order, $S_0$ , the elements correspond to genes, and a concrete $S_{0c}$ is defined as the set of all genes $[G_n]$ of a specific organism or organism type (understood as a stable biological species).

Alternatively, $S_{0c}$ can be defined as a set representation of any organismic genome, $G_O$ . The latter are then considered together with inputs $e_i$ from the environment, as well as their activities $a_i$ and relations $R_{ij}$ among organismic set elements (genes in the case of $S_0$ ), where $i, j$ are indices in a countable, index set $I$ . Thus, Rashevsky's organismic set (OS) theory is part of abstract relational biology. At the next level of biological organization, cells are considered as first order organismic sets, $S_1$ , whereas multi-cellular organisms are modeled by organismic sets of second order, $S_2$ , whose `elements' are the first order organismic sets, or cells, $S_1$ . Attempts were then made by Rashevsky to expand his theory of organismic sets to organizational models of human societies. Results from such studies of relations between sets were considered to be far more important than the numerical or quantitative aspects that play such important roles in physics and chemistry. A number of interesting results were obtained by means of standard (Boolean) logic predicates applied to organismic sets and their relations. Further details can be found in the publications listed below and the references cited therein. Subsequently, autopoietic theories have enlarged upon, and also extended, the application of organismic sets to biological and ecological systems.

Bibliography

1

Rashevsky, N.: 1965, The Representation of Organisms in Terms of Predicates, Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 27: 477-491.

2

Rashevsky, N.: 1969, Outline of a Unified Approach to Physics, Biology and Sociology., Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 31: 159-198.