To remove these one had to account for an “observer” (that is at least for one subject): (i) Observations are not absolute but relative to an observe… - Heinz von Foerster

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To remove these one had to account for an “observer” (that is at least for one subject):
(i) Observations are not absolute but relative to an observer’s point of view (i.e., his coordinate system: Einstein);
(ii) Observations affect the observed so as to obliterate the observer’s hope for prediction (i.e., his uncertainty is absolute: Heisenberg).
After this, we are now in the possession of the truism that a description (of the universe) implies one who describes it (observes it).

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About Heinz von Foerster

Heinz von Foerster (November 13 1911 – February 10 2002) was an Austrian-American scientist known for his pioneering research in the field of cybernetics.

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Alternative Names: Heinz Von Foerster
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Additional quotes by Heinz von Foerster

While in the first quarter of this century physicists and cosmologists were forced to revise the basic notions that govern the natural sciences, in the last quarter of this century biologists will force a revision of the basic notions that govern science itself. After that “first revolution” it was clear that the classical concept of an “ultimate science”, that is an objective description of the world in which there are no subjects (a “subjectless universe”), contains contradictions.

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