All comments within the ontology are out from the original paper on the definition of systems in general: A. D. Hall and R. E. Fagan: "Definition of System", in: Ludwig Bertalanffy and Anatol Rapoport (ed.): "Yearbook of the Society for General Systems Research - Volume 1", 1956. One of the first and essential basics for a general system theory is a scheme for all objects of reality that are of scientific interest and should therefore be able to be analyzed. In (Oppenheim 1958) Paul Oppenheim and Hilary Putnam did recommend their so called “Reductive Levels” which were six levels of scientific universes of discourse together with an according set of conditions. After all the adapted reductive levels we want to base our development of methods and applications on must looks like a little bit different. Reductive level Reductive level Elements (orig.: Objects) are simply the parts or components of a system, and these parts are unlimited in variety. Most systems in which we will be interested consist of physical parts: atoms, stars, switches, masses, springs, wires, bones, neurons, genes, muscles, gases, etc. We also admit as objects abstract objects such as mathematical variables, equations, rules and laws, processes, etc. Element Element A system is a set of objects together with relationships between the objects and between their attributes. System System It is clear from the definition of system and environment that any given system can be further subdivided into subsystems. Elements (orig.: Objects) belonging to one subsystem may well be considered as part of the environment of another subsystem. The behaviour of the subsystem might not be completely analogous with that of the original system. Subsystem Subsystem The relationships to which we refer are those that "tie the system together." It is, in fact, these relationships that make the notion of "system" useful. Beziehung Relationship interacts with interagiert mit System interaction can be inferred from element interaction or annotated explicitly by using the interactsWith property. Beschreibung Description A system attribute describes a global behaviour of a system that can not be mapped to single elements but is the result of a systemic process or state. Systemische Eigenschaft system attribute Name Name Attributes are properties of elements (orig.: objects). Element attribute Elementeigenschaft Living organisms Lebewesen Level 5 includes the classical fields of biology of higher living systems. This means human medicine as a very large scientific research area but also zoology and botany or micro biology. Because also neuroscience operates on this level, the question of whether there exists a free will within human beings or not must be studied at this level of reductions. Academic disciplines: Biology (microbiology, zoology, botany), medicine, psychology Level 3 consists of the classical research areas of chemistry: Inorganic and organic chemistry, e.g. the study of molecules and their characteristics. Academic disciplines: Chemistry, molecular biology, physics (materials physics, mechanics). Moleküle Molecules Elementarteilchen Elementary particles Level 1 includes all scientific questions in the subatomic area. One example is quantum physics or particle physics, where characteristics of quantum and particle properties are studied. One concept that is in focus of current research work is the concurrence of quantum particles and its usage within information systems or communication technologies. Academic disciplines: Physics (quantum physics, particle physics, plasma physics). Ökosysteme Eco systems Level 6 has the ecological system as its main instance but also includes all forms of social groups as subsystems. Therefore climate effects are as well situated on this level as all economic or social questions like distribution of power in political systems are. Academic disciplines: Social sciences, economics, ecology, metereology. Level 7 includes all space sciences. The objects of interest on this level are stars, planetary systems but also astronomic effects like black holes. It is important to understand that for example the question of planetary effects like astronomic gravitation is situated on this level, while the question, whether live is also possible on other planets is not (this would be on level 6, because whether the atmosphere of a planet allows what we define as “living systems” is – according to (Lovelock 1969) - a question of homeostatic quality of the planet). Academic disciplines: Astronomy, cosmology. Astronomische Systems Astronomic systems Zellen Cells Level 4 focus on the basic component of all higher living systems: The cell. Academic disciplines: Biology (cell biology), chemistry Level 2 focus on atoms and their characteristics. This includes models for atoms and their characteristics (like periodic table or the atomic model of Erwin Schrödinger) or nuclear research work (for example in the area of power generation). Academic disciplines: Physics (nuclear physics) Atome Atoms