I posted the following on the SEBoK Comments page but thought it might not be seen by SysSci members.++++++
The Principles of Systems Thinking section of SEBoK 1.3.1 does not address system principles, specifically the necessary and sufficient conditions for something to be a system vs. not a system.
Example system principles are a) progress properties which hold that a system can progress from State(i) to State(n) in a finite number of transitions else is not a system and b) safety properties which hold that during any such progression certain other aspects of the system and its context must not change.
Are system principles addressed elsewhere in the SEBoK?
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Impetus for this perspective comes from Learning, Creating, and Using Knowledge by Joseph D. Novak, 2nd Edition which holds that propositions when sufficiently general become principles and that theories (such as designs, e.g., expressed as prescriptive models) consist of a selected bundle of properly ordered principles.
Does the SEBoK address the issue of "what is and is not a system" and state necessary, sufficient and efficient criteria for determining such?
If so, pls point me to the section.