Summary: Heinz von Foerster's collection of articles titled Observing Systems provides valuable insights into topics in cognitive science, artificial intelligence, epistemology, ethics, etc. The range of the topics is large and the relevancy of the writings is high even considering the fact that the articles have originally been published between 1960 and 1977. Von Foerster combines system-theoretical approach, careful consideration of the phenomena under consideration and many in depth questions of human existence.
Von Foerster is one of the forefathers of constructivism which becomes apparent while reading his writings. Personally I value the most the bridge that he is able to build from the system-theoretical considerations of living systems, human beings and societies to the realms of observation, learning and education, understanding and ethics.
The book consists of 13 writings among which ''Perception of the Future and the Future of Perception'', ''Notes on an Epistemology for Living Things'' and ''On Constructing a Reality'' are good examples of the central concents.
Von Foerster warns about trivialization in the study of human systems and in education. Even though quotations without the context can be considered to be trivialization of one kind I pick up some of my favourites below. Hopefully you will have a chance to familiarise yourself with the overall context of von Foerster's writings.
Quotes from von Foerster's articles in ''Observing Systems'':
''Objects and events are not primitive experiences. Objects and events are representations of relations. Since 'objects' and 'events' are not primary experiences and thus cannot claim to have absolute (objective) status, their interrelations, the 'environment' is a purely personal affair, whose constraints are anatomical or cultural factors. Moreover, the postulate of an 'external (obective) reality' disappears to give way to reality that is determined by modes of internal computations.''
''We have to perceive lectures, books, slides and films, etc., not as information but as vehicles for potential information.''
''We seem to be brought up in a world seen through descriptions by others rather than through our own perceptions. Thi shas the consequence that instead of using language as a tool with which to express thoughts and experience, we accept language as a tool that determines out thoughts and experience.''
''At any moment we are free to act toward the future we desire. In other words, the future will be as we wish and perceive it to be. This may come as a shock onlyo to those who let their thinking be governed by the principle that demands that only the rules observed in the past shall apply to the future. For those the conept of 'change' is inconceivable, for change is the process that obliterates the rules of the past.''