School for Designing a Society

Cybernetics Courses

Introduction to Cybernetics

Cybernetics has been called "the art and science of organization", and "the science of control and communication in people and machines", and "the study of observed systems and observing systems". Cybernetics offers a toolbox for talking about systems and change. This introductory course will focus on some basic vocabulary for talking about systems: structure, organization, regulation, feedback, inputs/output, recursion, equilibrium, disorder, decay, emergent property, communication, observer, language. Cybernetic theory is language in action: here, if nowhere else, the language is at the service of desirability. Projects in recent years have included: the treatment of legitimate questions, conversation theory, and acting so that there be a system.

Tree of Knowledge

Over 10 weeks, we will read the 10 chapters of Tree of Knowledge by Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, one chapter per week. The subject of the book is the biology of cognition. Discussions will focus on understanding the chapters, and understanding understanding. Maturana is not concerned with "things" and "facts" of an independent reality, but rather how the structure of the human organism validates "things" and "facts" in such a way that it becomes possible to make descriptions of "things" and "facts". Maturana's sentences are formulated to do what they say. In our conversation we will be interested in what we say, and what our sayings do.

Ecological Design: Permaculture

Permaculture is the design and maintenance of resource-producing ecosystems that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. Permaculture is an integration of landscape and people that produces food, energy, shelter, and other material necessities. Permaculture design criteria are applicable worldwide. This course will introduce the fundamentals of Permaculture design, and stimulate projects to be initiated within the timeframe of the course. Presentations will focus on Permaculture sites, plants and other living resources, water catchment design, fermentation and human nutrition, functional integration of animals, soil management, and green architecture.

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