Füllsack M. (2012) Communication Emerging? On Simulating Structural Coupling in Multiple Contingency. Constructivist Foundations 8(1): 103-110. https://constructivist.info/8/1/103
Füllsack M.
(
2012)
Communication Emerging? On Simulating Structural Coupling in Multiple Contingency.
Constructivist Foundations 8(1): 103-110.
Fulltext at https://constructivist.info/8/1/103
Problem: Can communication emerge from the interaction of “self-referentially closed systems,” conceived as operating solely on the base of the “internal” output of their onboard means? Or in terms of philosophical conceptions: can communication emerge without (“outward” directed) “intention” or “will to be understood”? Method: Multi-agent simulation based on a conceptual analysis of the theory of social systems as suggested by Niklas Luhmann. Results: Agents that co-evolutionarily aggregate probabilities on how to cope with their environment can structurally couple and generate a form of “eigenbehavior” that retrospectively (i.e., by an observer) might be interpreted as communication. Implications: The “intention” or the “will to be understood,” as prominently claimed to be indispensable in communication by theoreticians such as Jürgen Habermas, can be seen as a retrospective ascription to an emergent property of complex interaction. Constructivist content: The paper attempts to base constructivist reasoning on data generated in simulations.
Füllsack M. (2014) The Circular Conditions of Second-order Science Sporadically Illustrated with Agent-based Experiments at the Roots of Observation. Constructivist Foundations 10(1): 46–54. https://cepa.info/1160
Füllsack M.
(
2014)
The Circular Conditions of Second-order Science Sporadically Illustrated with Agent-based Experiments at the Roots of Observation.
Constructivist Foundations 10(1): 46–54.
Fulltext at https://cepa.info/1160
Problem: The inclusion of the observer into scientific observation entails a vicious circle of having to observe the observer as dependent on observation. Second-order science has to clarify how its underlying circularity can be scientifically conceived. Method: Essayistic and conceptual analysis, sporadically illustrated with agent-based experiments. Results: Second-order science – implying science in general – is fundamentally and ineluctably circular. Implications: The circularity of second-order science asks for analytical methods able to cope with phenomena of complex causation and “synchronous asynchrony,” such as tools for analyzing non-linearly interacting dynamics, decentralized, clustered networks and in general, systems of complex interacting components.
Schmidt S. J. (2008) Media philosophy – A reasonable programme? In: Hrachovec H. & Pichler A. (eds.) Philosophy of the information society. Proceedings of the 30. International Wittgensten Symposium Kirchberg am Wechsel, Austria 2007, vol. 2. Ontos, Frankfurt: 89–105.
Schmidt S. J.
(
2008)
Media philosophy – A reasonable programme?
In: Hrachovec H. & Pichler A. (eds.) Philosophy of the information society. Proceedings of the 30. International Wittgensten Symposium Kirchberg am Wechsel, Austria 2007, vol. 2. Ontos, Frankfurt: 89–105.
On the basis of a constructivist concept of media the question is discussed whether or not media philosophy should be installed as a separate discipline or rather be performed as an interdisciplinary discourse resp. a research programme.In both cases the core question concerns an explication of the concept of ‘mediality’, i. e. the clarification of the relation between media and reality. If the observer dependency of all knoledge production is respected this relation has to be modelled in a non-dualistic format of argumentation.