Trivialization and empiricity

Journal/Book: Syst Res. 1996; 13: 605 Third Ave, New York, NY 10158-0012. John Wiley & Sons Inc. 385-392.

Abstract: Relying on von Foerster's distinction between trivial and non-trivial machines, this paper discusses some crucial arguments for a constructivist concept of 'empiricity'. The concept 'empirical' is oriented towards (social) knowledge and knowledge-constructing operations instead of objects or reality, thus following the strategy of systems theory to replace the subject/object difference by the difference system/environment. Consequently, scientific empirical research is located at the level of second-order observation in the social system science.

Note: Article SJ Schmidt, Univ Gesamthsch Siegen, Lumis Inst, D-57068 Siegen, Germany

Keyword(s): empirical empiricity empirical research; trivial non-trivial machines; trivialization de-trivialization as research procedures; constructivist epistemology; reality (as emergent experiences); self-organization

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