THERMODYNAMICAL AND LOGICAL OPENNESS IN GENERAL SYSTEMS

In this paper we propose a theory of logically open systems. These lat ter coincide with systems in metastable equilibrium with the environme nt, in which the system-environment interaction cannot be described, a s a principle, without taking into account the inner state of the syst ems themselves. We introduce a particular hierarchy of these systems a nd we prove some results relative to the limitations encountered when dealing with them. We derive an undescribability principle which appli es to logically open systems at the top of this hierarchy. Besides, we suggest a strategy for coping with these Limitations and we sketch so me possible applications of our theory to concrete cases. (C) 1998 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Ltd.