Walter F. Buckley
Encyclopedia
Walter Frederick Buckley (1922 - January 26, 2006) was an American professor of sociology
. He was among the first to apply concepts from general systems theory (GST), based on the work of Bertalanffy
, to sociology
. The sociologist was not specifically aligned to either the cybernetics
or the general systems movements.
in 1922. He received the Ph.D. degree in sociology
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He was a professor at the University of New Hampshire
between 1971 and 1985, and honorary chair of the Socio-Cybernetics
Research Committee of the International Sociological Association
in 1998. He has been described as a pioneer in social systems
theory that challenged conventional views.
Buckley also appreciated jazz
music and played tenor saxophone
. He died in 2006 in Durham, New Hampshire
. His wife Cicely still lives in Durham.
s concepts to the social sciences
.
Articles, a selection:
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. He was among the first to apply concepts from general systems theory (GST), based on the work of Bertalanffy
Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy was an Austrian-born biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory . GST is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology, cybernetics, and other fields...
, to sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. The sociologist was not specifically aligned to either the cybernetics
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
or the general systems movements.
Biography
Buckley was born in Lynn, MassachusettsLynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
in 1922. He received the Ph.D. degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He was a professor at the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
between 1971 and 1985, and honorary chair of the Socio-Cybernetics
Sociocybernetics
Sociocybernetics is an independent chapter of science in sociology based upon the General Systems Theory and cybernetics.It also has a basis in Organizational Development consultancy practice and in Theories of Communication, theories of psychotherapies and computer sciences...
Research Committee of the International Sociological Association
International Sociological Association
International Sociological Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific purposes in the field of sociology and social sciences...
in 1998. He has been described as a pioneer in social systems
Social systems
Social system is a central term in sociological systems theory. The term draws a line to ecosystem, biological organisms, psychical systems and technical systems. They all form the environment of social systems. Minimum requirements for a social system is interaction of at least two personal...
theory that challenged conventional views.
Buckley also appreciated jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music and played tenor saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. He died in 2006 in Durham, New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,664 people, 2,882 households, and 1,582 families residing in the town. The population density was 565.5 people per square mile . There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of 130.5 per square mile...
. His wife Cicely still lives in Durham.
Work
Buckley was one of the first pioneers to correctly apply systemSystem
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
s concepts to the social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
.
Publications
The sociologist made three major contributions to systems theory and sociology:- 1967, Sociology and Modern Systems Theory with foreword from Anatol RapoportAnatol RapoportAnatol Rapoport was a Russian-born American Jewish mathematical psychologist. He contributed to general systems theory, mathematical biology and to the mathematical modeling of social interaction and stochastic models of contagion.-Biography:...
, Prentice Hall 227 p. - 1968, Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist
- 1998, Society—A Complex Adaptive System : Essays in Social Theory, Routledge 312 p.
Articles, a selection:
- 1996. "Mind, Mead, and Mental Behaviorism". In: K.M. Kwan (ed). (1996). Individuality and Social Control: Essays in Honor of Tamotsu Shibutani. Greenwich, Conn.: JAI Press.
External links
- Society as a Complex Adaptive System, Structure and Change in Complex Systems, Provost, W.H.
- Buckley's "Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist" outline by the ISSSInternational Society for the Systems SciencesThe International Society for the Systems Sciences is a world-wide organization for systems sciences.- Overview :The initial purpose of the society was "to encourage the development of theoretical systems which are applicable to more than one of the traditional departments of knowledge."The idea...
.