Observing Objects - Revisiting Second-Order Cybernetics

Explore a thought-provoking lecture that delves into the philosophical foundations of second-order cybernetics and object observation. Examine the traditional ontological and epistemological approaches to understanding the relationship between observing subjects and observed objects, with particular focus on Ranulph Glanville's Theory of Objects. Learn how this theory presents a radical perspective where objects are viewed as autopoietic units with their own points of view, challenging conventional observer-centric approaches. Discover how this framework bridges object-oriented and process-oriented ontologies while accounting for objects' operative autonomy. Delivered by PhD student Luca Fabbris from the University of Turin, whose research focuses on the ontology of self-organizing systems in second-order cybernetics, this seminar presented at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) offers valuable insights into contemporary philosophical interpretations of cybernetic theory.