On the cybernetics of fixed points

Author: Kauffman L.H.

Source: Cybernetics & Human Knowing, Volume 8, Numbers 1-2, 2001 , pp. 133-140(8)

Publisher: Imprint Academic

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Abstract:

In his paper ‘Objects as Tokens for Eigenbehaviours’ [2] Heinz von Foerster suggests that we think seriously about the mathematical structure behind the constructivist doctrine that perceived worlds are worlds created by the observer. At first glance such a statement appears to be nothing more than solipsism. At second glance, the statement appears to be a tautology, for who else can create the rich subjectivity of the immediate impression of the senses? At third glance, something more is needed. A beginning in that direction occurs with Heinz’ paper. In that paper he suggests that the familiar objects of our experience are the fixed points of operators. These operators are the structure of our perception. To the extent that the operators are shared, there is no solipsism in this point of view. It is the beginning of a mathematics of second order cybernetics.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

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