HvF centenary conference, Vienna, November 2011

ASC Day

echoraum Sechshauser Straße 66, 1150 Wien | Freier Zugang, Registrierung erforderlich

The American Society for Cybernetics is delighted to offer a day of tutorial studies of papers by Heinz von Foerster and also Ernst von Glasersfeld. The American Society for Cybernetics grew out of a luncheon discussion club in Washington, DC. Although not a founding member, Foerster (who lived in Champaign, Illinois) became a key participant soon after the Society’s founding, and, from the ASC conference in 1980, defined a “new cybernetics” which became the focus of attention of ASC members for at least two decades. Thus, the ASC has a strong connection with Foerster; which it also has with the Heinz von Foerster Society—two of our trustees are members of the Foerster board. The day will be organised in two halves. In the morning, we will consider two papers by Glasersfeld. In the afternoon, two papers by Foerster. The papers will be introduced by members of the ASC, and a panel will then discuss each paper with the audience. Audience members are invited read the papers beforehand to better facilitate their involvement. The papers will be sent to participants after registration. The four sessions will be chaired by Ranulph Glanville, Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Cybernetics, University College, London.

Timetable

Wednesday 9 November, 2011 at echoraum

09:30		registration and coffee
10:00		discussion of Ernst von Glasersfeld’s “Why I consider Myself a Cybernetician” led by Dr Albert Mueller, Archivist of the Heinz von Foerster and Gordon Pask Archives. University of Vienna, Austria.
11:15		coffee
11:30		discussion of Ernst von Glasersfeld’s “Aspects of Constructivism: Vico, Berkeley, Piaget” led by Philipp Guddemi, Vice-President of the ASC and a scholar of Grgory Bateson's work. Sacramento, CA
12:45		lunch
14:00		discussion of Heinz von Foerster’s “On Constructing a Reality” led by Dr Bernard Scott, Past President, Research Committee 51 (on Sociocybernetics) of The International Sociological Association.
15:15		tea
15:30		discussion of Heinz von Foerster’s “ Doomsday: Friday 13 November 2026”, introduced by Stuart Umpleby, Professor of Management, George Washington University
16:45		plenary session
17:30		end

Ranulph Glanville, President, American Society for Cybernetics.