The Second-Order Cybernetics Reader

The Second-Order Cybernetics Reader is a collection of writings that explore how observers—people or systems—are involved in shaping and understanding feedback loops within complex systems. Unlike traditional cybernetics, which studies systems objectively, second-order cybernetics emphasizes the role of the observer’s perspective, acknowledging that our own insights influence our understanding. This approach is used across fields like systems theory, psychology, and organizational management to better grasp how change occurs through interaction and feedback, highlighting that observing and being part of a system are interconnected processes.