Date
2-28-1975
Series
Vital Partners: University and City
Length
53 minutes
Notes
Heinz von Foerster, an Austrian-American physicist and philosopher, was a pioneer in the field of cybernetics. He taught in the at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In this recording, von Foerster suggests that the managing of a complex system is a cognitive process, and that to observe a system properly one must enter into and interact with it.
Transferred and preserved by Portland State University Library’s Special Collections with the generous support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library.
Subjects
System theory, Communication
Original Format
Reel to reel, 3.75 ips, 1/2 track, mono
Rights
This digital access copy is made available as streaming media for personal, educational, and non-commercial use only. It cannot be reproduced in any form, distributed or played for commercial purposes. It is made accessible because of one or more of the following situations: the rights are owned by State Board of Higher Education, on behalf of Portland State University; Portland State University has permission to make it accessible; it is made accessible for education and research purposes under fair use; or there are no known restrictions on use. In the event that previously unknown information is shared that may change the status of this item, it will be immediately removed from public view until pertinent rights issues are clarified.
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/11375
Recommended Citation
von Foerster, Heinz, ""The Curious Behavior of Complex Systems: Lessons from Biology"" (1975). Special Collections: Oregon Public Speakers. 125.
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/11375
Description
Transcript added April 22, 2021.
PSU Library Special Collections and University Archives presents these recordings as part of the historical record. They reflect the recollections and opinions of the individual speakers and are not intended to be representative of the views of Portland State University. They may contain language, ideas, or stereotypes that are offensive to others.