Søren Brier
In this double issue of Cybernetics & Human Knowing we have collected articles on teaching seen from different constructivist positions by Heinrich Bauersfeld, John Frode Blichfeldt. Related to that we have two articles on the cognition and performance of music in the self-organizing relations between hearings, notations and practices by Jean Bamberger and Tellef Kvifte. Behind these discussions are the questions of the relation between cognition, information and reality which are discussed in a paper by Søren Brier.
We continue to bring papers which introduce to cybernetics on a high level. The former president of the ASC, Fred Steier, who has made a big effort to make this journal possible writes among other things about the relation and differences between system science and second order cybernetics. We also reprint Rodney Donaldson's Prolegomenon because illness and some unfortunate events resulted in fallouts of important words and a sentence in his short paper.
The paper from practice is written by Per Thygesen Poulsen from the Academy of Practical Philosophy. He writes about how second order cybernetics is fruitful in understanding management and organizational problems.
The artists of this issue are Eli Ponsain in corporation with the crystallization process of a special photographic developer which organizes itself in the most astonishing "intelligent" forms. In this process seeing and creating are intimately connected. Poul Erik Tøjner writes about his art.
In the name of self-organization our policy is that we offer the journal as an international exhibition for artists whose art in some way relates to cybernetic themes. We offer the artist and the readers the possibility respectively to sell and buy the exhibited pieces. And we welcome short papers on the relation between the artistic expressions and cybernetics. Interested artists should send their material to the art editor Bruno Kjær.
As the journal moves into its second year and volume we will welcome guest editors on different themes within second order cybernetics. Suggestions should be sent to the editor Søren Brier.
Finally it is time to think of renewing your subscription if you want to be sure to avoid delays in delivering. The last issue of this year will be published in december. It is very important for the continuation of the journal that we receive payment from the subscribers in advance.
As the american dollar has fallen considerably since the start of the journal we have to put 10$ on the price of individual subscriptions and 20$ on institutional subscriptions to cover some of our losses. The price outside Europe for individuals will be 60 US$ (or 340 danish kr.) and 110 US$ (or 620 danish kr.) for institutions including postage and handling of currencies. We will ask all European subscribers to pay in danish kroner from now on. As the postage now is lower here and we will not have to handle foreign currencies the price in Europe outside the Nordic countries will be 310 kr for individuals and 560 kr. for institutions. In the Nordic countries the price will still be 250 kr. for individuals and 500 kr. for institutions.
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