The Significance of System Cybernetics for Contemporary Philosophy- Post-Modernity in System Cybernetics :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

The Significance of System Cybernetics for contemporaneous Philosophy- Post-Modernity in System CyberneticsABSTRACT I call the union of cybernetics and outlines system Systems Cybernetics. Cybernetics and systems theory might be thought of a major stock of todays striking development in cyber-technology, the science of complex adaptive systems, and so on. Since their genesis about the middle of this century, these two claim gradually let to be connected with each other such that they acquire straight formed an integrative theory which can be called Systems Cybernetics. This oblige pays financial aid to its aspects which argon often overlooked, but which have profound significance for coeval philosophy and our handling of various difficultys posed by modern societies. I insist that the dominant factors of European modernization are primarily sparing and technological, though modernity has often been characterized by philosophical and scientific rationalism. I also insist that there are several problems which deserve accompaniment attention but are made invisible by the frugal and technological inclination of the modern mind. In such a context, the problem of reductionism in modern science and the concept of subject detached from its surround are discussed. In order to cope with these problems, main theories of System Cybernetics are applied. Post-modern System Cybernetics which will be illustrated is also expected to play an diligent part. ForewordI am lacquerese, and now feel keenly that Japan has been under an accelerating modernization. For example, we are now facing to so-called cyber-revolution, financial rangy Ban and so on. On the other hand, the international conference for preventing the temperature move up of the earth caused by carbon dioxide was held in Kyoto just in December, 1997. These situations have made me convinced more and more firmly that system cybernetics has a particular significance for our consideration of the prob lems in modernization.I specialize in philosophy of science (theory of science in a more exact expression), and have long been interested in N. Wieners cybernetics as well as everyday System Theory founded by L. von Bertalanffy, while proposing for a decade or so to call the union of these two system cybernetics. In this paper, the significance of system cybernetics in dealing with the problems related to modernization, and its post-modernity as well, will be discussed, unitedly with its relation to philosophy.I am very grateful for the opportunity of submitting this article which may be published just in 1998, the fiftieth history year since the publication of Wieners book, Cybernetics.