Beyond the Distinction Between 1st Order and 2nd Order Cybernetics

American Society for Cybernetics

Join us for a lively discussion of the distinction that has been a defining feature of the ASC since at least 1974.

ASC Speakers Series: Cybernetics and humans' knowing<h2>Abstract </h2>This is an interactive panel discussion that asks the questions: Has the distinction between 1st and 2nd order cybernetics run its course, now sufficiently embedded in our cybernetic practice and thought to move on? That is, is the practice of cybernetics self-aware, explicitly embedding responsibility (and, at least implicitly, ethical considerations) when doing whatever we do? Even if not yet sufficient, should we nudge ourselves in new directions anyway? What’s next?

<h2>Panelists: </h2>Tom Scholte, University of British ColumbiaClaudia Westermann, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool UniversityHoward Silverman, Willamette UniversityMark Johnson, University of Manchester(Im)Moderator: Larry Richards, Indiana University East

<h3>Links:</h3>For background information, see the Wikipedia page on Second Order Cybernetics: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-order_cybernetics#:~:text=More%20generally%2C%20second-order%20cybernetics%20is%20the%20reflexive%20practice,whether%20or%20not%20it%20is%20termed%20as%20such." target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-order_cybernetics#:~:text=More%20generally%2C%20second-order%20cybernetics%20is%20the%20reflexive%20practice,whether%20or%20not%20it%20is%20termed%20as%20such.</a>