Understanding Systems: Conversations on Epistemology and Ethics

Citation

(2002), "Understanding Systems: Conversations on Epistemology and Ethics", Kybernetes, Vol. 31 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2002.06731eae.005

Understanding Systems: Conversations on Epistemology and Ethics

Heinz von Foerster and Bernhard PoerksenKluwer Academic/Plenum PublishersNew YorkFebruary 2002166 pp.USD $55.00

Keywords: Publication, Cybernetics, Systems

The publishing Editor with Kluwer/Plenum, New York, Ana Bozicevic, writes that a book by Heinz von Foerster, who was one of the founders of the American Society of Cybernetics and a distinguished systemist and cybernetician will publish this new book: It was written in collaboration with the journalist Dr Bernhard Poerksen and has a forward by Ernst von Glasersfeld.

The book, we are told, will consist of the following five chapters:

Chapter 1 deals with fundamental philosophical issues regarding the meaning of reality and knowledge, the difference between realism and constructivism, and the role of computer and systems science in coping with these issues. Chapter 2 illustrates practical implications of the issues discussed in Chapter 1 to five areas: pedagogy, psychotherapy, management, and communication. Chapter 3 is fully devoted to the discussion of basic ideas associated with cybernetics, many of which are original ideas of the author himself. Chapter 4 is entitled ''A Biographical Excursion'' Heinz von Foerster talks here, among other things, about his early association with the famous Vienna Circle, his role in developing the ideas of self-organizing systems and second-order cybernetics, and his development of the Biological Computer Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana.In Chapter 5, the author discusses his profound views regarding epistemology (theory of knowledge) and ethics.

A full review of the book by Dr Alex M. Andrew will be published in a future issue.