| |
- My translations of Luhmann's German texts follows 'Social Systems' II.) translated by John Bednarz, Jr. with Dirk Baecker.
33 Sinn (des Lebens) = meaning (of life)
Keeping its productive connotations 'Sinn' means 'Sense',
for sense [according to my my Styrian 'work ethos'] has to be established in the first place, whereas 'meaning' - [already] given II.) 16 - conveniently may be conveyed / confered / applied.
Sinn (machen) = (to make, literally: to craft) sense see IV.) 13
- ^ a b c d e 'Social Systems: Writing Science' by Niklas Luhmann, translated by John Bednarz, Jr. with Dirk Baecker, published by Stanford University Press, California 1995 [published first in German as 'Soziale Systeme: Grundriß einer allgemeinen Theorie' 1984, my paperback edition published 1987, both by Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main] http://books.google.at/ [German]
[The cover of 'Social Systems' features a set design sketch from the film 'Metropolis'.]
14 » The conceptualization of the social in terms of a meaning processing system of communication …. « [page xxiv, foreword by Eva M. Knodt]
15 a b » The Derridean paradox that "there is nothing outside the text," is not dissolved by systems theory but reemerges at the level of communication, where it can be reconceptualised in terms of the operational closure of a system that cannot operate beyond its own boundaries.
In order to observe society and to discriminate it from other types of systems, a boundary must be drawn from within society across which it can observe itself as if from the outside, but the construction of this outside is, and always remains, an operation of the system. "Whoever observes participates in this system – or he does not observe. There are no exempt positions." « [page xxxiii, foreword by Eva M. Knodt, quoting Niklas Luhmann from ‘Die Wissenschaft der Gesellschaft’, page 86, details according to Knodt]
27 a » […] Whatever is observed is observed by an observer, who cuts up reality in a certain way in order to make it observable. Whatever distinction is selected, others remain possible. Each cut highlights certain aspects of reality and obscures others. Reality as such, the unity of the observing system and its environment, the paradoxical sameness of difference, of inside and outside, remains inaccessible; it is what "one does not perceive when one perceives it," the "blind spot" that enables the system to observe but escapes observation. [referring to Luhmann, ‘Cognitive Program’ page 76 see also XII.) 30 ] An outside observer can make this blind spot visible by distinguishing the observed system's distinction as a form that contains both of its sides, but in doing so, any such second-order observation must rely on its own blind spot and is bound to reproduce the paradox of observation at the operational level of its own distinction. […] « [page xxxiv, foreword by Eva M. Knodt, details according to Knodt]
16 » […] there remains the impression that meaning can be grasped as something given, something whose presence or absence can be determined. […] Meaning forces itself to change. […] « [page 63 - 64]
19 a » Finally we must note that history is constituted in the specific meaning dimension of time. By history we do not simply mean the factual sequence of events, according to which what is present is understood as the effect of past causes, or as the cause of future effects. […] History originates in the release from sequence. […] Accordingly, history is always the present past or the present future, always an abstention from pure sequence, and always a reduction of the freedom to have disjunctive access to everything past and everything future that is gained through this abstention. « [Meaning, VI, page 79]
20 a b c » The system reproduces itself only in the present and does not need memory [Gedächtnis] to do so. Under certain circumstances it can observe itself and ascribe a “memory,” or even a “bad memory,” to itself. […] But this does not alter the fact that something called memory exists only for an observer. […] « [Meaning, III, note 20, page 514]
21 a » One of the worst aspects of [our] language (and the entire presentation of systems theory in this book is inadequate, indeed misleading, because of it) is that predication is forced on the subjects of sentences; this suggests the idea, […] that we deal with "things," […] the primary object of systems theory is not the object (or kind of object) "system," but the difference between system and environment. « [Meaning, VI, page 77]
26 » We use the phrase "differentiate from" instead of "distinguish from" in order to avoid the implication of consciousness. […] But of course one can speak of "being able to distinguish" in the domain of social systems. « [System and Function, I, note 2, page 499]
- 'Die Kunst der Gesellschaft [The Art of Society / Art as a Social System / The Social System of Art]' by Niklas Luhmann, published by Suhrkamp [paperback], Frankfurt am Main, 1997 [published first 1995] http://books.google.com/
1 a » Beobachten zweiter Ordnung ist ein Unterscheiden von Unterscheidungen […] Für das Beobachten zweiter Ordnung wird mithin die Unbeobachtbarkeit des Beobachtens erster Ordnung beobachtbar - aber nur unter der Bedingung, daß nun der Beobachter zweiter Ordnung als Beobachter erster Ordnung seinerseits sein Beobachten und sich als Beobachter nicht beobachten kann. Darauf kann ein Beobachter dritter Ordnung hinweisen, der dann den autologischen Schluß zieht, daß all dies auch für ihn selbst gilt. « [page 92 to 105, abridged, translated by me, considering 'Social Systems' II.) 26 ] See also Eva M. Knodt's interpretation. II.) 27 [Also compare to IX.) 28 ]
- 'Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft [The Society of Society]' by Niklas Luhmann, published by Suhrkamp [paperback], Frankfurt am Main, 1998 [published first 1997]
Volume 1 [Chapter 1-3]
13 a » Gesellschaft ist ein sinnkonstituierendes System. « [page 50] translates as:
» Society is a meaning-constituting system. « [literally, a matter of fact statement, compare to 'Social Systems' II.) page 69, IV]
» Society as a system, establishes meaning. « [subject to other notions]
» Society as a system, makes sense. I.) « [ambiguous]
» … the social in terms of a meaning processing system … « II.) 14 [for "There is no such thing as society." Margaret Thatcher, 1987 </corny>]
Already at this trivial level language II.) 21
prevails. see II.) 15
- Img. _01 'Patrick Star' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants' in 'Bikini Bottom'. Merchandise image from the television series 'SpongeBob SquarePants', aired in 1999 on Nickelodeon. © 2001 Viacom International Inc. Produced by C&D Visionary Inc. http://spongebob.nick.com/
9 Created by Stephen Hillenburg [according to http://en.wikipedia.org) a marine biologist.
10 'Patrick Star', a starfish, lives under a rock.
His best friend 'SpongeBob SquarePants' is a sea sponge. He lives in a pineapple next to Patrick in the underwater city (suburbia) of 'Bikini Bottom'.
11
[Patrick Star introducing Rocky] » Hey Spongebob, check out my new snail. «
[SpongeBob SquarePants] » Patrick, your snail is a rock. «
[Patrick Star] » Yeah thanks, I know. He's got nerves of steel. «
[time code 3:17 until 3:27]
And a bit later ostentatiously:
[Patrick Star] » … My snail. «
[Squidward Tentacles to Patrick] » Patrick, that's a rock. «
[Patrick Star] » Yeah thanks, I know. He's got nerves of steel. «
[time code 4:11 until 4:16]
From the episode: 'The Great Snail Race' Season 3, aired on January 24th 2003. Online video from http://sefruan.com/
[Details according to http://spongebob.wikia.com/]
- Img. _02 Still from the short animation film 'Luxo Jr.' by Pixar Animation Studios, 1986 http://www.pixar.com/
8 In the lamp's case the distinctions it renders / observes, are its shadows: the difference between light and dark.
- 29 a As an architect, I indulge in spatial metaphors, even to the extend of high jacking theory [back] to the spatial realm. So enjoy [observing] this.
Illustrating 'Observational Space' … (audience)
Sum of all [possible*] points of view = Volume of all [meaningful*] observations.
A spatial interpretation of 'meaning', for meaning [only] requires observation:
[accomplished by] DIFFERENCE from anything not making sense, hence remaining » ineffective autopoietically. «
[maintained via] REPETITION in oder to distinguish from chance [what is unobservable, indistinguishable white noise]. …
Assessed somehow stroboscopically: now, now and now... all observation is uniform III.) 1
(and true). In order to assign such basic properties some reductions are in place:
- 'Simultaneity [Gleichzeitigkeit]'
a section in time, anything going on 'now'. see synchronicity VII.) 32
- 'Temporal symmetry' requiring for 'now' to be the same scale throughout that section.
To begin with my 'observational space' is uniform, equidistant, homogenious, isotropic …
| Key to illustrations: |
My notation here depends on whether (complete) immersion in the 'observational space' is made explicit, or (for the sake of argument) a remote view, seemingly "outside" is assumed. |
| Img. _03 |
Img. _06 |
There are different "(under)standings" attributed to similar symbols and graphic representations by others, I prefer to transfer mine from descriptive geometry. |
+
x |
+
x |
"Point" of view; viewer's eye (marking one's blind spot XII.) 30 ). A distinction; thus already an observation.
(x merely being a distorted 'referential cross-hair') |
| |
[ ] |
"Picture plane" framing that view; "image" of what's been observed, result of the very process.
left: depicted as an elevation plane.
right:
written as a logic container.
|
| |
┐
|
Mark of distinction (George Spencer Brown)
There is a conceptual affinity though:
[ ] = ┐
[┐] is
merely descriptive … |
| — |
→ |
Relation (not depicted when obvious) |
| + |
+ → [ ] |
Observing "blank" |
| + s |
+ → [something] |
Observing something (first-order observation) Img. _02 |
|
+ | + |
Two different points of view (not related, occurring at the same time, both independently true, for the 'Principle of Relativity' XI.) can not apply. See below) |
+ + |
+ → +
+ → [+]
+ → [+ → [ ]] |
Observing a different point of view (second-order observation) Img. _02 |
| + + + |
+ → [+ → [+ → [ ]]] |
Recursiveness implied. Img. _03 |
|
 |
+° Self-observation; impossible according to Foerster's blind spot notion XII.) 30 - thus rendered as a case of "false perspective" obvious by any shift (of perspective);
+° resolves as + → +
when "appropriating" a view …
or
+° = + → +'
+' being one's prior position / distinction as we prgress
It's time to discard simultaneity.
|
 |
|
| +◉ = |
+ |
→ [+' → [+'' → [ |
|
] ] ] |
|
|
| |
↑ |
|
|
|
|
for + … n |
+ ↔ +◉
Observers are systems IX.) 28 and systems observe. |
|
+ → [ [ …]' ] |
"Memory" II.) 20 discards temporal symmetry.
Tracing past / present / future (self) observations figures typologies: Img. _03 Img. _04 … |
|
 |
Though:
Second-order observation may be truly indistinguishable from self-observation.
+ → + <> +°
+ → + <> + → +' (consider the gentleman with the bowler hat Img. _05)
Not observable by a shift of perspective unless inferring / assigning certain properties to space (observer / audience) as such. Img. _06
Which of course is equal to augmenting 'observational space' with a point of view from "where" such properties are observable - make sense. |
In "reality" all of this is totally non-problematic. On the contrary: the more complex < intricate, entangled > complicated this 'observational space' is perceived / meaning is constructed, the more we seem to enjoy it. […]
Img. _03 The 'recursive universe' or observing 'Ouroboros', Franz Sdoutz 2010
Of course, observing the "monster" from a distance / new angle [behavioural view] will not save us from being devoured by its next frame(work), for technically (in keeping with 'Social Systems' II.) ) there is no "outside" position, no view from an Archimedean point. II.) 15
Img. _06 Sections through 'Observational Space' [observing observation] Franz Sdoutz 2011
You, observing me, observing / stating a spatial interpretation of 'meaning' by means of making / crafting (some) sense I.) 33 [that is].
Both visualisations (left and right)
are of course the same geometry merely 'cut open' in different ways …
32 Dealing with 'meaning' figured as space, establishes an interesting parallel to Carl Gustav Jung's notion of 'synchronicity' relating events by meaning (proximity) instead of causality.
As an effect in 'space' this notion would render as:
[
+ → [[s] - [s*]] ] as "linking" elements (+, →, s, [ ], …) coinciding in / constituting a [ ] from any + .
or (when non-simultaneity or temporal a-symmetry is granted / considered):
+ → [s] followed by +' → [s*] thus relating s - s*
which is the same as +'' → [+ → [s] | +' → [s*]] where +'' is observing / reflecting on prior perspectives + | +'
12 a Cartoon characters are no different from other abstract models. 'Systems' are [BEING] distinguished from (their) surroundings [by someone]. Thus both Patrick and his rock are systems! see also V.) 11
Essentially (what this boils down to is) "believing" in systems, autopoiesis, society, global warming, gravity …
Of course NOT believing in "gravity" will not keep you from falling – it merely allows for different rationalisations / frameworks (of the very fact).
- 'Urban Flotsam: Stirring the City' by CHORA (Raoul Bunschoten, Takuro Hoshino, Hélène Binet, and others) published by 010 Publishers, Rotterdam 2001 http://books.google.at/
'Alexandrov Seven Walks' [page 70 to 107]
Img. _04 Label: 'walk along' [page 86]
2 » Walk along
Finding something or someone to accompany is the first instance of using an observer in order to obtain a positive feedback. Yet it is a subtle and ambiguous means of interaction. « [page 81]
- ^ 'The Autopoiesis of Architecture' by Patrik S. Schumacher
Vol.1: 'A New Framework for Architecture'
published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., London, November 2010 [2011]
http://books.google.at/
4 » The realization that a theory is designed rather than discovered opens up a whole new game, with a whole new freedom and burden. Instead of going round in circles with the received, crude apparatus of traditional architectural thinking, we might aim to construct a new, more sophisticated apparatus. And during this conceptual construction process we should be aware of our manifold theory design choices. « Page 6, prefixing a 'trail and error' commitment.
5 » This empirical base, […] remains crucial. «
To assume "proof" when observing / projecting compliance with "experience" in terms of assessing communication seems paradox, when [also assuming] communication is the only reality / experience we actually deal with / produce … See: system / environment ['axioms' page 19 onwards]
6 » Thus […] all theory is constrained by the need to maintain sufficient connectivity with the current reality of architecture as ongoing system of communications. «
… constituting communication of communication.
7 Promoting his book, Patrik Schumacher makes an explicit leadership claim. [see also http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/]
» No vital autopoietic communication system can afford to lag behind when it comes to updating its communicative sophistication in line with advancements achieved elsewhere in societal communication. « [page 8]
- Does "lagging behind" require direction?
- Suppose that architecture / design (already) constitutes a 'function system' different from the arts [page 25, 75] - why aren't architects calling the shots theoretically [in their own field]?
The explanation outlined on page 72 (2.1.1) merely sustains that (given the theory production of recent years) self-demarcation IX.) 24 of architecture by means of self-descriptions depends on "imported outside-descriptions re-written as self-description". Which could be interpreted in terms of architecture dissolving into other fields [media, design, philosophy, sociology, ecology, politics … page 94] in search of meaning / self-justification rather than establishing an "ultra-stable" boundary / raison d'être of its own.
- Why 'couple structurally' with sociology? [in terms of choice]
- Why infer teleonomy [in terms of a biological fallacy] into communication?
» Avant-garde styles […] start […], mature […] and end […] « and apparently are resurrected [as 'architectural research programmes'], when already deemed extinct. [Thesis 16, page 15, 277, 283, 294, 443]
… merely » testing for consistency « [page 17]
22 » A sure empirical indicator for the factual, operational separation of art and architecture is the total absence of double careers. […] « [page 146]
Depending on one's expectations [career-wise] the usual suspects are:
Walter Pichler, James Turrell, Vito Acconci, Gordon Matta-Clark …
23 » […] architecture relies on its specific medium – the drawing – as much as the economy relies on its specific medium money. « [page 84]
Realizing of course that drawings equal money [and that is very true].
24 » Avant-garde vs. Mainstream « [pages 95 to 114, again deep in "artistic territory" …]
What is noteworthy [about this clearly "psychological construct"] is my personal observation that it is definitely not enough to be "avant-garde" (in terms of what one is doing / communicating) in order to BE avant-garde. It is vital to be recognised as such (to be differentiated from the rest, regardless of what one is doing / communicating) to qualify (for) that sub-system. Apparently self-demarcation (even via self-description by means of insisting on one's autonomy / one's belonging to …) doesn't count. Such (impertinence) is merely embarrassing.
What defines a social (sub) system is not self-description (alone) and please do try this at home, declare yourself avant-garde (by publishing a manifesto) …
Architectural avant-garde(s) are a concept to distinguish (deviations from ordinary). Of course such labelled / differentiated "deviations" thus define (what is) "ordinary". For an "avant-garde" to become mainstream (to be relabelled), different (new) deviations (defining that new ordinary) are prerequisite.
The term "avant-garde" - actually denotes:
- Professionals conspiring to joint communication in terms of self-demarcation (De Stijl, Dada)
- Individuals being distinguished for (assumed / inferred) joint criteria / communication by "mainstream authority" [in difference to ordinary]. (Constructivists, Cubists)
- Criteria being distinguished for no reason what so ever [apart from satisfying demand for difference / novelty] and attributed to individuals. (anything proclaimed by Philip Johnson)
It is only recognised avant-garde(s) we CAN observe. Such "relabelling" is NOT a requirement and rarely happens (within the deviant's lifetime). To BE avant-garde (before / without recognition) means to be unobservable for "mainstream", apart from being irritating …
What is true though for all (kinds of) semiotic-guerrillas [to apply a different framework], is the (conceptional) understanding, that one can’t transcend communication as such. II.) 15
Most striking (apart from the delusions star-architects seem to enjoy) are the obvious economic implications / premises of Schumacher's "avant-garde" notion NOT made explicit [not even in systemic terms].
Remarkable in respect to the "taboo" of [explicit] second order observation / communication inherent. The agent provocateur (avant-gardist) must not disclose his purpose / function [in the autopoiesis of communication, cherish page 105]. In order to trigger the desired response all indications of careful consideration must be obscured.
To concede one's awareness (of the mechanisms at work) will result in indifference. [A condition steering "(a)vanguardists" share with leading politicians.]
One could come up with [alternative] metaphors of swarm-behaviour, where individuals dissect and the swarm will according to certain parameters change its [dis]course (follow or ignore runaways with serious implications for those individuals). Of course such [biological] transfer is inappropriate </ironic> in the context of 'Social Systems' II.) (as a philosophical concept).
17 In my view Luhmann’s theory should not be argued in historic terms [in contrast to his own conduct].
For a) 'Social Systems' II.) are difficult to apply to "ages" when (presumably) neither "social" nor "systems" (would have) made any sense …
and for b) the theory already takes into account that "history" II.) 19 is a mere projection (observation) originating in the present. Strictly speaking there are no historical "facts", apart from their (current) interpretation [which is based on "remembrance" II.) 20 , imprints of prior communications - result of (and resulting in) the ongoing autopoiesis of communication].
(An apparent example for how the past is subject to projection / concepts applied is the scientific perception of the Maya culture before and after deciphering its written records.)
Reinterpreting / retelling history is necessary in order to retain sense, and actually adds (new) meaning [to the "facts" as well as to the theories applied]. Such well established procedures appear misplaced though, when the "past" needs to be diminished in order to sustain one's theoretical framework.
» […] architecture is constituted by virtue of architectural theory. That is why the theory of architectural autopoiesis insists that architecture proper only begins with the Renaissance. […] « [page 36]
Assuming that a) there was no autonomous discourse before [the cultural expression we term Renaissance in accordance with 19th century communications]
and b) that the little there was had no impact (spurred no further discourse == had no autopoietic consequences) trying of course to maintain the perception that the celebrated Renaissance protagonists [page 81] had to invent everything from scratch …
The difference between "Gothic" and "Renaissance" (in terms of architectural discourse) is Gutenberg’s printing press. [as conceded on page 52 and 82]
To deduce from shifting media that early buildings lacked theory [then 'coupled structurally' with theology …] and therefore do not qualify as "architecture" within the axioms of an autopoietic theory, entirely misses the point of » communication via physical artefacts and buildings. « [Exposing deliberate demarcations disguised as systemically induced though. page 11]
» […] although architects […] of the great cathedrals were recognized and respected […] no names were preserved within the ongoing architectural discourse. In contrast, Alberti, Bramante and Palladio are still alive […] « [page 36; See some gothic masters and for the 'parametric' in 'gothic' see Lars Spuybroek]
If being an architect means to be at the centre of attention [being renowned] and architectural discourse implies "promoting a star-system" [page 100], then there’s something wrong. Not so much with a theory that describes / predicts such phenomena but with the conclusion that such is inevitable and hence desirable.
25
» Architecture is a systematic communication process that communicates (about) design decisions. These design decisions risk determining aspects of an (otherwise) uncertain future. « [page 197]
» However, the unpredictability of the future is only relative, not absolute. We are still able to chart general tendencies […] « [page 128]
Reference to [Sir] Karl Popper [from an explicit Marxist background] figures the present future [of architecture] no less erratic than its present past, II.) 19 if it wasn’t for that subliminal notion of evolutionary progress …
28 a b » 3.1.2. Third Order Observation
All function systems […] observe themselves. « [page 182]
Systems observe systems. VII.) 29 Niklas Luhmann conceives people (human beings) as biological / psychic systems … » as parts of societal environment […] especially relevant for the formation of social systems [but] no longer the measure of society. «
['Social Systems' II.) , Interpenetration, I, page 210, 212 and The Individuality of Psychic Systems, I, page 255]
In this sense 'system' [always] involves people.
Thus staging a symposium - involving people - not only cleverly celebrates / demonstrates 'The Autopoiesis of Architecture' IX.) [as a matter of fact] but also constitutes a self-observation of architecture (as far as the AA - location and general framework of the event - was concerned).
'Debating Fundamentals: Probing the Autopoiesis of Architecture' [Symposium, 11.03.2011, AA School of Architecture, London] was a swift trail, and the verdict inferred surprising:
According to his peers Patrick Schumacher's [least] achievement (like with all texts on Architecture before) is the distinction of what's in and what's out. [Crudely paraphrasing Mark Cousins.]
In architecture such is always equivalent to WHO’s in or out. [It’s all about that list really.] </austrian>
» … "All the people want to know is who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, and this is what we are going to tell them." … « [Quoted in 'Social Systems' II.) , Interpenetration, end of VII, page 240, no reference given.]
18
Résumé: IX.)
['The Autopoiesis of Architecture' by Patrik S. Schumacher
Vol.1: 'A New Framework for Architecture']
The concept of autopoiesis requires [in order to be observed] historicity IX.) 17 (an awareness of the former II.) 20 ), consequently antecedent [theoretical] 'achievements' aren’t rendered negligible.
Embedding 'The Autopoiesis of Architecture' in an already (well) established theoretical framework thus makes sense. German sociologist Niklas Luhmann provides that context. In a discourse dominated by (French) philosophy, not an obvious choice though. 'The Architecture/Design of Society' - a treatment according to Patrik Schumacher "missing" from Luhmann’s famous sequence of society’s functional subsystems - apparently left an assignment waiting to be accomplished. [page 75, note 7]
» The Autopoiesis of Architecture might therefore be read as continuing the series, as an extension of Luhmann’s work with respect to the domain of architecture. […] The degree of intellectual dependence of the work presented here is nevertheless considerable. « [page 13]
Architectural theory [in particular] is about reaching an audience [beyond space]. In order to make that desired impact, connectivity is prerequisite. IX.) 6 Thus 'The Autopoiesis of Architecture' documents [a consideration of] contemporary believes VII.) 12 in architecture.
Issues like weather there actually is "social evolution" [in terms of an adequately sustainable scientific assumption], or weather the "concept of autopoiesis" is applicable [at all], from an architectural perspective are irrelevant. Such criticism [directed at Luhmann] bares structural "design weaknesses" IX.) 4 though, inevitably leading to the question, why Patrik Schumacher chose to design his theory in [that] style?
» The ambition of the theory of architectural autopoiesis is to attract the kind of expert following that Luhmann has […] « [page 55]
[…]
Of course it’s nice to have [the sensation of] state of the art tools (practical and theoretical ones) and the [peer] pressure to apply the most advanced ["software" in both respects] will undoubtedly continue (as long as marketable). In this context, shifting focus towards 'communication' actually makes a difference, for this book is NOT about [making] architecture, it's about recognition [processes on the level of societal communication], observing / understanding architecture only in these terms.
- 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams 1978 - 2001
'Life, the Universe and Everything' http://books.google.com/ PDF
Broadcast in September 2004 on BBC Radio 4 [and online] as 'The Tertiary Phase'
3 » […] You should be more
mattresslike. We live quiet retired lives in the swamp, where we
are content to flollop and vollue and regard the wetness in a
fairly floopy manner. Some of us are killed, but all of us are
called Zem, so we never know which and globbering is thus kept to
a minimum. […] «
Mattress conversing with Marvin the Paranoid Android [Chapter 9] http://www.angelfire.com/ 2
- 'Wahrheit ist die Erfindung eines Lügners : Gespräche für Skeptiker [Truth is the Invention of a Liar. Conversations for Skeptics]' by Heinz von Foerster and Bernhard Pörksen, published by Carl-Auer-Systeme, Heidelberg 1999 [3rd edition, published first 1998]
ftp://myebooks.dyndns.org/ [PDF German]
Img. _05 '… the gentleman with the bowler hat … [solipsist, inferred title]' drawing for Heinz von Foerster by Gordon Pask [page 18]
See also:
'From Stimulus To Symbol: The Economy Of Biological Computation' [PDF …]
'Perception of the Future and the Future of Perception' [PDF …]
'Time and Memory' [PDF … 2]
- IN:
'Understanding Understanding: Essays on Cybernetics and Cognition' by Heinz von Foerster, published by Springer, 2003 http://books.google.at/ [PDF …]
'On Self-Organizing Systems and Their Environments' [page 1 PDF]
'On Constructing a Reality' [page 211 PDF … 2 3 4]
30 a b » The Environment as We Perceive It Is Our Invention […]
The Blind Spot [Note: This key notion and its underpinning experiment are SPATIAL arguments, for even the rational of "(the) seeing (apparatus)" is inscribed in space, frequently illustrated by Foerster with SECTIONS through the human eye!]
Hold book with right hand, close left eye, and fixate star of Figure 1 with
right eye. Move book slowly back and forth along line of vision until at an
appropriate distance (from about 12 to 14 inches) round black spot disappears.
With star well focused, spot should remain invisible even if book is
slowly moved parallel to itself in any direction. [Do this online.]
This localized blindness is a direct consequence of the absence of photo
receptors (rods or cones) at that point of the retina, the "disk," where all
fibers leading from the eye’s light-sensitive surface converge to form the
optic nerve. Clearly, when the black spot is projected onto the disk, it cannot
be seen. Note that this localized blindness is not perceived as a dark blotch
in our visual field (seeing a dark blotch would imply "seeing"), but this
blindness is not perceived at all, that is, neither as something present, nor
as something absent: Whatever is perceived is perceived "blotchless." « [page 212]
» Note again
absence of perception of "absence of perception," and also the emergence
of perception through sensorimotor interaction. This prompts two
metaphors: Perceiving is doing, and If I don’t see I am blind, I am blind; but
if I see I am blind, I see. « [page 213]
» This is doubly difficult, because of […] a peculiar property of the logical structure of
the phenomenon "blind spot" on the other hand; and this is that we do not
perceive our blind spot by, for instance, seeing a black spot close to the
center of our visual field: we do not see that we have a blind spot. In other
words, we do not see that we do not see. This I will call a second order deficiency,
and the only way to overcome such deficiencies is with therapies of
second order. « [page 284, 'Cybernetics of Cybernetics' page 283]
'For Niklas Luhmann: "How Recursive is Communication?"' [page 305 PDF …]
31 » Non-trivial machines: (i) synthetically determined; (ii) dependent on the past;
(iii) analytically determinable; (iv) unpredictable. « [page 311]
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!['Ouroboros' [circular self referential observation of n-th order] Franz Sdoutz 2010](http://www.golden-dawn.com/goldendawn/UserFiles/EN/image/gallary/Alchem_pic_div/1-Ouroboros,%20Synesius.jpg "'Ouroboros' Franz Sdoutz 2010")
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