Heinz von Foerster

act increase choice

"Act always so as to increase the number of choices."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)

hard science soft problem

"Hard sciences are successful because they deal with the soft problems; soft sciences are struggling because they deal with the hard problems."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)

objectivity delusion observer

"Objectivity is the delusion that observations could be made without an observer."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)

first-order cybernetics observed system second-order

"First-order cybernetics is the science of observed systems; Second-order cybernetics is the science of observing systems."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)

objectivity subject delusion observing

"Objectivity is a subject's delusion that observing can be done without him."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)

environment perceive invention

"The environment as we perceive it is our invention."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)

concept principle cybernetics circularity

"Should one name one central concept, a first principle, of cybernetics, it would be circularity."

— Heinz von Foerster (1911-2002)