Critically Compare the Epistemologies Governing the First- and Second Order Cybernetic Approaches in Terms of :
Critically compare the epistemologies governing the first- and second order cybernetic approaches in terms of :
1. How is reality seen by each specific approach?
Reality is seen as an agreed upon consensus that occurs through social interaction of members of a system (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2004).
According to Becvar, D, 2009, reality is seen from a plane at the level of simple cybernetics were we place ourselves outside the system as observers of what is going on inside the system. The metaphor that is being used to describe this process is a black box, “it describes a system whose operation we attempt to understand by observing what goes into and what comes out of it.”(Becvar, 2009, p.66) Therefore in a first cybernetic approach we do not see ourselves as part of the system and we are not concerned why it does what the system does, but the focus is on describing what is happening. We always look at the balance between stability and change. The main meaning of a first cybernetic approach is that it views reality as external to the observer. First-order cybernetics assumes that the system being observed is separate from the observer, who would be able to objectively observe the system from the outside and influence it, without entering the system itself (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2004). According to first-order cybernetics there is one objective reality and our differences in opinion about the same system, is only due to our different interpretations of the same reality (Becvar & Becvar, 2009).
Through reality we operate in consensual domains that are generated through structural coupling in a common language system. First- order consensual domains are those we study and therefore the Second-order domains are those that we are part in (or observing ourselves). Every person creates and lives in a different manner that is based on our own unique combination of heredity, experiences and perceptions. Therefore each person creates a different reality.” (Becvar,
1. How is reality seen by each specific approach?
Reality is seen as an agreed upon consensus that occurs through social interaction of members of a system (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2004).
According to Becvar, D, 2009, reality is seen from a plane at the level of simple cybernetics were we place ourselves outside the system as observers of what is going on inside the system. The metaphor that is being used to describe this process is a black box, “it describes a system whose operation we attempt to understand by observing what goes into and what comes out of it.”(Becvar, 2009, p.66) Therefore in a first cybernetic approach we do not see ourselves as part of the system and we are not concerned why it does what the system does, but the focus is on describing what is happening. We always look at the balance between stability and change. The main meaning of a first cybernetic approach is that it views reality as external to the observer. First-order cybernetics assumes that the system being observed is separate from the observer, who would be able to objectively observe the system from the outside and influence it, without entering the system itself (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2004). According to first-order cybernetics there is one objective reality and our differences in opinion about the same system, is only due to our different interpretations of the same reality (Becvar & Becvar, 2009).
Through reality we operate in consensual domains that are generated through structural coupling in a common language system. First- order consensual domains are those we study and therefore the Second-order domains are those that we are part in (or observing ourselves). Every person creates and lives in a different manner that is based on our own unique combination of heredity, experiences and perceptions. Therefore each person creates a different reality.” (Becvar,