Hi Don,
Its true in a way that as you say 'Until recently, non-linear systems could
not be handled, so everything was linearized. Most important real phenomena
are non-linear, which means that much of theory was a simple approximation
to reality over a restricted range or, in the case of wildly non-linear
phenomena, that they couldn't be studied.'
However, it's not exactly true...
Its 40 years since myself and many other undergrad design students were
taught non-linear multivariable modelling for design (used to be called
non-linear control theory) and it has been in wide use in many areas of
design since that time. Software to do the grunt work has been around for 30
years and commercially usable software is available free open source.
The reality is more that for a number of reasons (mainly shortage of
mathematical education) non-linear multi-variable systems approaches to
design hasn't yet been widely taught in many areas of design. A result is
many of the design issues it addresses are inappropriately classified as
'wicked problems'.
Cheers,
Terry
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