The purpose of second-order cybernetics

In this paper, the origins of second-order Cybernetics are sketched, and are particularly identified with circularity: a quality that was at the basis of the studies that lead to the creation of the field of Cybernetics. The implications of the new analysis that second-order Cybernetics (Cybernetics treated cybernetically: that is, Cybernetics when circularity is taken seriously) gives rise to are considered in terms of the two qualities that Wiener gave to Cybernetics in his eponymous book – control and communication. Finally, the analysis is applied to that other proto-cybernetic concept, purpose. It is shown that (and in consequence how) the notion of goal and purpose must be radically reconsidered in second-order Cybernetic systems. Apologia This paper is a summary of a paper that was never given. At the conference of which this issue of Kybernetes constitutes proceedings, the original intention was to provide a workshop and forum focusing on second-order Cybernetics and led by Dr Bernard Scott and myself. My intention was, therefore, only to provide a briefing that might open up discussion. However, as things turned out, the conference expanded and the theme and spirit became, I felt, submerged. In the end my presentation was quite different, a response to the changes in circumstance and the fact that, as the last presentation, I had to squeeze it into a short time. The paper presented here is, therefore, essentially the briefing I would have given rather than a written version of the presentation I made at the conference, and does not pretend to be other than that. Origins Second-order Cybernetics, the Cybernetics of Cybernetics (or even the New Cybernetics) was given form between approximately 1968 and 1975, at a strange stage in the history of Cybernetics. Mead’s (1968) originating paper (“The Cybernetics of Cybernetics”) was presented as the inaugural keynote address at the founding meeting of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC), organised by Heinz von Foerster as a part of the IAAASmeeting in 1968, at a point in the history of Cybernetics that can be seen, in retrospect, to have been a turning point[1], marking both the end of the subject, and its resurrection. The year 1975 marks the publication of the book Cybernetics of Cybernetics (edited by von Foerster, 1975), arising out of a course option organised by von Foerster at the University of Illinois (and funded by the Whole Earth Catalogue). This account is simplified and dangerously distorted. For instance, it might appear that Mead provoked the approach, but in actuality von Foerster gave her the title and the briefing for her keynote[2]. While the cybernetics of cybernetics is primarily linked with von Foerster’s name, many others played more or less significant parts in its inception and development[3]. Henceforth, in this paper, the assorted names will generally be consolidated into one: the Cybernetics of Cybernetics. The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0368-492X.htm The purpose of second-order cybernetics