Vertical and horizontal unification, by Y.P. Rhee:
Systems science is to develop the unifying principles vertically or horizontally through the universe of the individual sciences, which brings us near to the goal of the unity of science. When systems science as the transdisciplinary science can be highly developed in the future, the language of systems science can be the universal language and therefore serve as the basic language in all the fields. This basic language can comprehensively unify the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in the long perspective.
a) Systems science as universal language
Science is unity and all statements can be translated into the physical language. All states of affairs are of one kind and known by the same method utilized in the transdisciplinary science. If the physical language is alone being intersubjective, the physical language is the language of science.In order to be the language of the whole of science, the physical language needs to be not only intersubjective but also universal.Thus in systems science the physical language is intersubjective and can serve as the universal language.
b) Systems science as the unifying science for the macro-micro linkage
It is generally assumed that in systems science the system must be brought into the interaction with its environment. Furthermore, it is assumed that in respect with the complex system there must be the dynamic relation between the macroscopic level and the microscopic level.It is known that one of the most important problems is the eventual feedback between the macroscopic structures and the microscopic events. It can be said that in the complex system the macroscopic structures emerging from the microscopic events would in turn lead to a modification of the microscopic mechanism. The in systems science the macro-micro linkage provides systems scientists new analytic method for understanding of complex systems.
c) Systems science as unifying evolutionary science
Scientific development becomes the piecemeal process that includes scientific technique and knowledge. In fact, science has been developed by its revolutionary breakthroughs including the accumulation of individual discoveries and inventions. In the last decades the core of the scientific revolution comes from a major conceptual shift in physics, namely, the nonlinear revolution. The major elements of the nonlinear revolution combine to form particularly important shift in our understanding of evolution as a single overall process from molecules to humankind.It is clear that a new consensus on systems science as unifying evolutionary science has been emerging among systems scientists. The proper theoretical and methodological problem is not how to reduce one to the other but how they are linked and interconnected. Thus systems science can further develop by incorporating new conceptual shift from the transdisciplinary science in terms of unifying evolutionary perspective.
