political involvement
Jeff Prideaux (JPRIDEAUX@GEMS.VCU.EDU)
Fri, 20 Oct 1995 17:26:15 -0400
Bruce H. Buchanan writes:
>[Felix Geyer, in his paper on Sociocybernetics] also points to the paradox
>that "the accumulation of knowledge often
>leads to a utilization of that knowledge - both by the social scientists
>and the objects of their research - which may change the validity of that
>knowledge." However, it may be suggested that strategic knowledge related
>to governing values, which condition such responses to research, is not so
>subject to change. The relationships of what is known may change, but not
>the validity of the principles involved.
>...
>Since values are in their turn higher level cybernetic guidance structures,
>the overview required is that of a Second Order Cybernetics, where an
>immense and potentially fertile territory is open for development.
>...
>As Geyer also writes:
> "the consequences of self-referentiality are
> interesting not only for gaining an insight in the functioning of social
> systems, but also for the methodology and epistemology used to study them."
It may be potentially beneficial (in the long run) for those who wish
to get politically involved (for example, Marty Cyber) to spend some time
studying the second-order cybernetics ideas.
Jeff Prideaux