1. SECOND ORDER SCIENCE: REVITALIZING THE TRADITION
Stuart A. Umpleby
Department of Management
The George Washington University
Washington, DC

2. A current transition to reflexive knowledge
Many people have contributed to the current change in thinking
Heinz von Foerster, second order cybernetics
Vladimir Lefebvre, ethical cognition
George Soros, reflexivity theory in economics
Karl Mueller, second order research
Louis Kauffman, knot theory
Klaus Krippendorff, the reflexive turn

3. Heinz von Foerster ( )

4. George Soros

5. Karl Mueller

6. Vladimir Lefebvre

7. Louis Kauffman

8. Klaus Krippendorff

9. The basic idea
Science can be expanded by adding the observer to what is observed and considering the co-evolution of theories and society
We would shift our thinking from viewing science as creating descriptions of systems to viewing science as an active part of social systems

10. World 1 3
Description
Observer 2

11. Philosophers vs. scientists
Philosophers, in my experience, have a broad and multi-faceted conception of philosophy of science
Practicing scientists have a narrower, rule-bound conception of philosophy of science
Many social scientists seek to imitate their conception of physics
Objective descriptions are thought to be the goal

12. How we think about social science
It is easy to accept that theories affect society
We create theories because we hope that people will accept them, act on them and society will perhaps operate better
However, when scientists conduct research, they usually assume that theories do not affect what is studied
We act this way because we think this is the way to create objective descriptions

13. Four models underlying science
Linear causality – many statistical methods are available, e.g., correlation and multiple regression
Circular causality – inherent in regulation, system dynamics models
Self-organization – Adam Smith, Charles Darwin, complex adaptive systems
Reflexivity – von Foerster, Soros, Lefebvre

14. Reflexivity Observe, decide, act, observe… A circular process
An observer is included
Operates on two levels of analysis – observation and participation

15. The task of science is to produce accurate descriptions

16. The observer should be included within the domain of science

17. Social systems consist of observers who also participate

18. Four ways of describing systems
Variables – physics and economics
Ideas – anthropology and psychology
Groups – sociology and political science
Events – history, law

19. A model of social change using four methods for describing systems
Ideas
Variables Groups
Events
A model of social change using four methods for describing systems

20. A reflexive theory operates at two levels
Ideas
Variables Groups
Events
A reflexive theory operates at two levels

21. A more holistic view of social systems
The current emphasis on disciplines leads to overspecialized points of view
We need to make use of the knowledge from several fields in order to create the knowledge that we need to understand complex systems

22. The importance of purpose
Is the purpose of science to create universal general knowledge or to help human beings function effectively in nature and society?
Probably science has both purposes, but adaptation of the individual and society is the larger purpose
Methods for creating universal general knowledge should not prevent us from creating knowledge useful for survival

23. Expanding the base of knowledge for philosophy of science
Philosophers have primarily used the method of rational criticism
Second order science can use a wide range of methods from any discipline – computer simulation, survey research, mathematical proofs, data analysis
Second order science can use results of research in the biological and social sciences

24. Philosophical principles
Demarcation
Induction
Reflexivity
The correspondence principle

25. Popper’s two principles
Demarcation – the difference between science and non-science: scientific statements must be falsifiable
Induction – induction cannot lead to universal, general knowledge. A statement can be proven to be false, but not true

26. Soros’s philosophical principle
Reflexivity – systems composed of thinking participants are different from systems composed of non-thinking participants
The presence or absence of reflexivity serves as a criterion of demarcation between social and natural phenomena

27. The Correspondence Principle
Proposed by Niels Bohr when developing the quantum theory
Any new theory should reduce to the old theory to which it corresponds for those cases in which the old theory is known to hold
A new dimension is required
By applying the correspondence principle to the philosophy of science, we change not just one theory or one field but all of science

28. New philosophy of science
New philosophy of science
An Application of the Correspondence Principle
Old philosophy of science
Amount of attention paid to the observer

29. Examples of the correspondence principle
Relativity theory – add the speed of light
The gas laws – add the diameter of gas molecules
Amount of attention paid to the observer
The effect of a theory on the system described

30. Popper on second order tradition
What we call ‘science’ is differentiated from the older myths not by being something distinct from a myth, but by being accompanied by a second-order tradition – that of critically discussing the myth
Before, there was only the first-order tradition. A definite story was handed on. Now, there was still a story to be handed on, but with it went a silent accompanying text of a second-order character

31. Second order tradition (2)
This second order tradition was the critical or argumentative attitude. It is the fundamentally important thing about scientific tradition
Scientific myths are different from religious myths because if one adopts a critical attitude then one’s myths do become different. They change; and they change in the direction of giving a better and better account of the world – of the things which we can observe

32. Second order tradition (3)
And they also challenge us to observe things which we would never have observed without these theories or myths

33. Revitalizing the tradition
Perhaps second order science will revitalize tradition of science reflecting on itself

34. Contact Information
Prof. Stuart Umpleby
Department of Management
School of Business
George Washington University
Washington, DC USA

35. Prepared for a panel discussion of Second Order Science
University Seminar on Reflexive Systems
The George Washington University
Washington, DC
November 26, 2014