Universality of Viability in Systems of Different Nature

This paper examines the universality of viability as one of the central concepts of Vitology. Viability is proposed as a characteristic applicable to systems of different nature, including physical, chemical, biological, ecological, social, organizational, technical, and artificial systems. Unlike approaches that restrict viability to biological survival, Vitology interprets viability as the capacity of systems to preserve integrity, maintain coordinated functioning, activate regenerative processes, adapt to changing conditions, and sustain developmental potential over time. The paper explores the relationship between viability and existing scientific approaches, including systems theory, cybernetics, resilience studies, sustainability research, and complex adaptive systems theory. Particular attention is devoted to the manifestations of viability across different domains and to its role as a universal criterion of system state and development. The universality of viability is proposed as one of the foundations for interdisciplinary research and for the integration of scientific knowledge concerning the functioning and evolution of complex systems. Keywords Vitology, viability, universality, system viability, systems theory, cybernetics, resilience, sustainability, adaptation, regeneration, development, system integrity, complex adaptive systems, interdisciplinary research.