A system* is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that

achieves something. If you look at that defi nition closely for a minute, you can see that a system
must consist of three kinds of things: elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose.

A system, as defined by Meadows (2020), is a set of interconnected subsystems that aim to

achieve something. It consists of interconnected elements that are coherently organized to
perform a specific function or purpose. Elements are those which make up a system.
Interconnections are the relationships that bind the elements together. Lastly a function or
purpose, the most crucial determinant of the system’s behavior, is what the system particularly
aims to serve.

A system may be classified as living if all or majority of its components are living. Living systems
are those with the ability to self-organize and interact with the environment. Like any other
systems, living systems are composed of elements which are interacting with each other. Living
systems also have purposes and functions. Usually, the primary function of these systems is
survival. Moreover, living systems are organized into hierarchies with a progressive
specialization of its functions. It also consists of complexity that emerges from high level or low
level of organization, which is also known as its emergent properties. Living systems also
include basic functions or transcending functions. Finally, living systems also possess control
processes or feedback mechanisms. On the other hand, a system is known to be non-living if all
or majority of its components is non-living. Examples of this system include all inanimate
objects.

Living organisms have certain demands in order to be sustained. In nature, living things have
the ability to cope with such factors because of adaptation. The concept of adaptation allows
particular organisms to survive and reproduce in its environment, thus attaining a sustained life.

Organisms are able to cope with the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment because

they have special features that assist them to survive. These features are called adaptations. An
adaptation is any feature that assists an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
          A system, as defined by Meadows (2008), is a set of interconnected subsystems that aim to
achieve something. It consists of interconnected elements that are coherently organized to
perform a specific function or purpose. Elements are those which make up a system.
Interconnections are the relationships that bind the elements together. Lastly, a function or
purpose, the most crucial determinant of the system’s behavior, is what the system particularly
aims to serve.

          A system may be classified as living if all or majority of its components are living. Living
systems are those with the ability to self-organize and interact with the environment. Like any
other systems, living systems are composed of elements which are interacting with each other.
Living systems also have purposes and functions. Usually, the primary function of these systems
is survival. Moreover, living systems are organized into hierarchies with a progressive
specialization of its functions. It also consists of complexity that emerges from high level or low
level of organization, which is also known as its emergent properties. Living systems also
include basic functions or transcending functions. Finally, living systems also possess control
processes or feedback mechanisms. On the other hand, a system is known to be non-living if all
or majority of its components is non-living. Examples of this system include all inanimate
objects.

          Living organisms have certain demands in order to be sustained. In nature, living things
have the ability to cope with such factors because of adaptation. The concept of adaptation
allows particular organisms to survive and reproduce in its environment, thus attaining a
sustained life. In addition, as stated by Meadows (2008), the concept of balancing feedback loops
also contributes as a source of stability for the living systems.

Balancing feedback loops are equilibrating or goal-seeking structures in systems and are both
sources of stability and sources of resistance to change