THE THIRD POSITION—BEYOND ARTIFICIAL AND AUTOPOIETIC REDUCTION

Abstract

The meaning of cybernetics of sociocultural systems is discussed in terms of two rival traditions. Both are reductionistic with respect to cognitive interaction: One seeks a reduction to ( A ) the Artificial Gestalt of symbolic representations; the other to ( B ) the Biological Gestalt of cellular reproduction. Cultural Gestalt‐switches and other irreducible properties, such as intersubjectivity and capacity for consciousness, call for a third position in terms of ( D ) Dialogue and Dualities, which comprises and transcends the complementarity of ( A ) and ( B ). Conditions are indicated for shifts between modes conforming to both, and for the prevalence and resolution of model monopoly. Examples are given from small group studies and socioeconomic planning in Norway.