Heinz Von Foerster – författare

How real is reality? Are our images of the world mere inventions, or does an external reality correspond to them? Is it possible to know the truth?These are questions that physicist and philosopher Heinz von Foerster and journalist Bernhard Poerksen debate about in their conversations. Together, they explore the borders of our capacity for knowledge. They discuss the seeming objectivity of our sensual perception, the consequences of "truth terrorism" and the connections between knowledge and ethics, sight and insight.

In these essays Heinz von Foerster discusses some of the fundamental principles that govern how we know the world and how we process the information from which we derive that knowledge. Included are path- breaking articles concerning the principles of computation in neural nets (1967), the definition of self-organizing systems (1960), the nature of cognition (1970), as well as recent expansions on these themes (e.g. "How recursive is communication," 1993). Working with Norbert Wiener, Warren McCullough, and others in the 1960s and 1970s, von Foerster was one of the founders of the science of cybernetics, which has had profound effects both on modern systems theory and on the philosophy of cognition. At the Biological Computer Laboratory at the University of Illinois he produced the first parallel computers and contributed to many other developments in the theory of computation and cognition.

In these essays Heinz von Foerster discusses some of the fundamental principles that govern how we know the world and how we process the information from which we derive that knowledge. Included are path- breaking articles concerning the principles of computation in neural nets (1967), the definition of self-organizing systems (1960), the nature of cognition (1970), as well as recent expansions on these themes (e.g. "How recursive is communication," 1993). Working with Norbert Wiener, Warren McCullough, and others in the 1960s and 1970s, von Foerster was one of the founders of the science of cybernetics, which has had profound effects both on modern systems theory and on the philosophy of cognition. At the Biological Computer Laboratory at the University of Illinois he produced the first parallel computers and contributed to many other developments in the theory of computation and cognition.

Heinz von Foerster was the inventor of second-order cybernetics, which recognizes the investigator as part of the system he is investigating. The Beginning of Heaven and Earth Has No Name provides an accessible, nonmathematical, and comprehensive overview of von Foerster's cybernetic ideas and of the philosophy latent within them. It distills concepts scattered across the lifework of this scientific polymath and influential interdisciplinarian. At the same time, as a book-length interview, it does justice to von Foerster's élan as a speaker and improviser, his skill as a raconteur.Developed from a week-long conversation between the editors and von Foerster near the end of his life, this work playfully engages von Foerster in developing the difference his notion of second-order cybernetics makes for topics ranging from emergence, life, order, and thermodynamics to observation, recursion, cognition, perception, memory, and communication.The book gives an English-speaking audience a new ease of access to the rich thought and generous spirit of this remarkable and protean thinker.

Heinz von Foerster was the inventor of second-order cybernetics, which recognizes the investigator as part of the system he is investigating. The Beginning of Heaven and Earth Has No Name provides an accessible, nonmathematical, and comprehensive overview of von Foerster's cybernetic ideas and of the philosophy latent within them. It distills concepts scattered across the lifework of this scientific polymath and influential interdisciplinarian. At the same time, as a book-length interview, it does justice to von Foerster's élan as a speaker and improviser, his skill as a raconteur.Developed from a week-long conversation between the editors and von Foerster near the end of his life, this work playfully engages von Foerster in developing the difference his notion of second-order cybernetics makes for topics ranging from emergence, life, order, and thermodynamics to observation, recursion, cognition, perception, memory, and communication.The book gives an English-speaking audience a new ease of access to the rich thought and generous spirit of this remarkable and protean thinker.

In these essays Heinz von Foerster discusses some of the fundamental principles that govern how we know the world and how we process the information from which we derive that knowledge. Included are path- breaking articles concerning the principles of computation in neural nets (1967), the definition of self-organizing systems (1960), the nature of cognition (1970), as well as recent expansions on these themes (e.g. "How recursive is communication," 1993). Working with Norbert Wiener, Warren McCullough, and others in the 1960s and 1970s, von Foerster was one of the founders of the science of cybernetics, which has had profound effects both on modern systems theory and on the philosophy of cognition. At the Biological Computer Laboratory at the University of Illinois he produced the first parallel computers and contributed to many other developments in the theory of computation and cognition.

Wie wirklich ist die Wirklichkeit? Sind unsere Weltbilder lediglich Erfindungen, oder entspricht ihnen eine äußere Realität? Ist Wahrheitserkenntnis möglich? Es sind diese Fragen, die der Physiker und Philosoph Heinz von Foerster und der Journalist Bernhard Pörksen in ihren Gesprächen debattieren. Gemeinsam erkunden sie die Grenzen unseres Erkenntnisvermögens, diskutieren die scheinbare Objektivität unserer Sinneswahrnehmung, die Folgen des Wahrheitsterrorismus und den Zusammenhang von Erkenntnis und Ethik, Sicht und Einsicht.Dabei offenbart sich ein Denken, das die Fixierung scheut und die eine, ewig gültige Antwort ablehnt. Und immer wieder geht es in diesen mit leichter Hand formulierten Dialogen um die innere Verbindung zwischen einem faszinierenden wissenschaftlichen Werk und einem ungewöhnlichen und aufregenden Leben.

"This book is so rich with insights, sparkling dialogue, and wisdom that one would love to distribute it like a leaflet around town."Südwestrundfunk (German radio station)"The intellectual dance that the two dare to dance is intelligent, light, humorous, and enchanting."Süddeutsche Zeitung (German daily)"I recommend this book not only to the cybernetics and systems community, but to anyone."Ranulph Glanville, Cybernetics and Human Knowing"Easy and enjoyable to read, without loss of scientific and philosophical depth and rigor. … The reader will find the book difficult to put down."Bernd R. Hornung, Journal of SociocyberneticsConversations for skepticsHow real is reality? Are our images of the world mere inventions or do they correspond to an external reality? Is it possible to know the truth?These are some of the questions that are discussed in this book by physicist and philosopher Heinz von Foerster and media studies scholar Bernhard Poerksen. Together they explore the limits of our cognitive capacities; they debate the apparent objectivity of our sensual perception and the consequences of "truth terrorism"; and they talk about the relationship between knowledge and ethics, sight and insight.The authors:Heinz von Foerster (1911–2002) completed his studies of physics in Vienna and worked at different research labs before emigrating to the United States in 1949. In 1957, at the University of Illinois, he established the Biological Computer Lab (BCL) – the cradle of the epistemology that would later cause a stir under the label of "constructivism." The focus was on analyzing the logical and methodological problems that in evitably arise when one seeks to know knowledge. He is the author of numerous books, including Understanding Understanding: Essays on Cybernetics and Cognition.Bernhard Poerksen is professor of media studies at the University of Tübingen with a particular research interest in the new media age. His books about systemic thinking have been translated into many languages. In 2008 he was voted "Professor of the Year" in honor of his teaching. His most recent book publications in English include From Being to Doing: The Origins of the Biology of Cognition (with Humberto Maturana), The Unleashed Scandal: The End of Control in the Digital Age (with Hanne Detel), and Digital Fever: Taming the Big Business of Disinformation.

In den Arbeiten Heinz von Foersters wird die scheinbar paradoxe Ausgangslage des Erkenntnistheoretikers – er will ja "das Erkennen erkennen", "das Beobachten beobachten" usw. – nicht wie üblich hinwegerklärt, sondern in all ihren logischen und empirischen Herausforderungen angenommen. In scharfsinnigen und prägnant formulierten Analysen wird vor allem die Unzulänglichkeit technokratischer Erkenntnis- und Wirklichkeitsauffassungen aufgedeckt, und es werden demgegen-über revolutionäre Lösungsperspektiven für die (Selbst-)Erforschung des Menschen in den Wissenschaften entwickelt, die u. a. in Ideen der Selbstorganisation, der Selbstreferenz oder der geschlossenen Kreiskausalität gründen.