The Second Cybernetics

The Second Cybernetics, developed by Gordon Pask, expands on early cybernetics by focusing on how systems and observers interact dynamically. Unlike traditional cybernetics, which studies systems objectively, the second cybernetics emphasizes the role of the observer's knowledge and interpretation in shaping the system's behavior. It highlights that learning and adaptivity come from ongoing interactions where both the system and observer influence each other. This approach helps us better understand complex, adaptive processes like human learning, social systems, and communication, recognizing that meaning and understanding emerge through continual feedback and mutual influence.