Special double issue: developing second order cybernetics – a collection of papers from the UK Cybernetics Society

Citation

Rudall, B.H. (2004), "Special double issue: developing second order cybernetics – a collection of papers from the UK Cybernetics Society", Kybernetes, Vol. 33 No. 9/10. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2004.06733iaa.001

Special double issue: developing second order cybernetics – a collection of papers from the UK Cybernetics Society

Special double issue: developing second order cybernetics – a collection of papers from the UK Cybernetics Society

Guest Editor: Bernard Scott

This special double issue is based on the presentations made at a conference with the theme “Second Order Cybernetics (SOC)”, which had been organised by the UK Cybernetics Society in London in 2002. These contributions have been developed extensively after consultations and dialogue between the authors, referees and the guest editor to produce this unique collection of papers. There is no doubt of the lasting value of these contributions to the understanding of SOC and to its future development.

We are in consequence, very grateful to Dr Bernard Scott who has so painstakingly compiled this collection and also to the UK Cybernetics Society for its permission to publish and build on the presentations and discussions of a most successful conference.

This publication is also the forerunner of two other special double issues which have been prepared to honour the late Professor Heinz von Foerster, regarded as one of the leading figures in the development of cybernetics and whose name is synonymous with SOC. The historical introduction by our guest editor provides the background to the emergence of cybernetics as we perceive it today, and the role of von Foerster in introducing the concept of “the cybernetics of cybernetics”. His work is extensively cited in this collection as well as the views of contributors, who provide their own intrepretations of both cybernetics and SOC.

In addition, as is our practice, we have included some of the regular sections. An index to all the contributions published in the ten issues of Volume 33, 2004 is available to all subscribers online.

Brian H. RudallEditor-in-Chief