The Harmony Norm as a Fundamental Principle of System Viability

This paper examines the Harmony Norm as one of the fundamental principles underlying Vitology as an interdisciplinary research program centered on the concept of viability. Particular attention is devoted to the role of harmony as a condition for maintaining the integrity, coordination, regeneration, and development of systems of different nature. The Harmony Norm is considered a dynamic principle reflecting the degree of coordinated interaction among system components and processes. Disturbances and crises are interpreted as manifestations of accumulated imbalance and as mechanisms of feedback contributing to the restoration of viability. The paper discusses the relationship between the Harmony Norm and existing scientific approaches, including systems theory, cybernetics, resilience studies, homeostasis, and complex adaptive systems research. The universality of the Harmony Norm and its applicability to biological, ecological, social, organizational, and technical systems are also considered. Keywords Vitology, Harmony Norm, viability, harmony, regeneration, feedback, self-regulation, systems theory, cybernetics, resilience, complex adaptive systems