@anildash this perspective only seems possible from a first-order cybernetics point of view.

And it differs with the type of system. A living system's purpose, from which most of systemic heuristics were derived from, is homeostasis.

That is not what it _does_. I would argue, that what a system _does_ cannot be divorced from an observer. Meaning, that it only does something when it is observed doing something. As such, [meaning] is a function of a subjects relationship to the object (system).

@anildash but maybe this is a joke that I am not in on. 🤷

But from a systemics point of view, this sentence is telling an incomplete story. Or, depending who you're asking, it could be considered just wrong lol.

But alas, as a systemic, I consider all meaning given. If one considers the purposes of systems to be behavioural only, then I could hardly argue with that.

But to postulate it truth, is not even possible from within systemic thinking itself.