 karl ludwig von bertalanffy (september 19, 1901, atzgersdorf near vienna â june 12, 1972, buffalo, new york) was an austrian-born biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory (gst). gst is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology, cybernetics, and other fields. bertalanffy proposed that the classical laws of thermodynamics applied to closed systems, but not necessarily to "open systems," such as living things. his mathematical model of an organism's growth over time, published in 1934, is still in use today. von bertalanffy grew up in austria and subsequently worked in vienna, london, canada and the usa. == biography == ludwig von bertalanffy was born and grew up in the little village of atzgersdorf (now liesing) near vienna. the bertalanffy family had roots in the 16th century nobility of hungary which included several scholars and court officials.t.e. weckowicz (1989). ludwig von bertalanffy (1901-1972): a pioneer of general systems theory. working paper feb 1989. p.2 his grandfather charles joseph von bertalanffy (1833â1912) had settled in austria and was a state theatre director in klagenfurt, graz, and vienna, which were important positions in imperial austria. ludwig's father gustav von bertalanffy (1861â1919) was a prominent railway administrator. on his mother's side ludwig's grandfather joseph vogel was an imperial counsellor and a wealthy vienna publisher. ludwig's mother charlotte vogel was seventeen when she married the thirty-four-year-old gustav. they divorced when ludwig was ten, and both remarried outside the catholic church in civil ceremonies.mark davidson (1983). uncommon sense: the life and thought of ludwig von bertalanffy. los angeles: j. p. tarcher. p.49 ludwig von bertalanffy grew up as an only child educated at home by private tutors until he was ten. when he went to the gymnasium/grammar school he was already well trained in self study, and kept studying on his own. his neighbour, the famous biologist paul kammerer, became a me
1901_births 1972_deaths Austrian_biologists Austrian_emigrants_to_the_United_States Austrian_people_of_Hungarian_descent Austrian_untitled_nobility Austro-Hungarian_scientists People_from_Liesing Scientists_from_Vienna Systems_biologists Systems_scientists Theoretical_biologists University_of_Alberta_faculty University_of_Ottawa_faculty UniversitA(c)_de_MontrA(c)al_faculty