HEINZ VON FOERSTER (1911-2002)

Dr. Heinz Von Foerster, one of the pioneers of the field of cybernetics, passed away this morning, October 2, 2002, at his home on Rattlesnake Hill in Pescadero, California. Heinz and his wife, Mai, have been close friends of DesignWorlds co-founders, Ted and Frona Kahn--and later, of their sons, Yoni and Aaron-- since Heinz became a member of the National Advisory Board of the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research which Ted founded and directed in 1981-83. Heinz was a member and recorder of the proceedings of the Cybernetics Group, an incredible interdisciplinary group of some of the most outstanding thinkers and scientists of the mid-20th century, brought together by the funding of the Josiah Macy Foundation from 1946-1953, and who helped give birth to post-World War II social science. This group included Margaret Mead, Kurt Lewin, Gregory Bateson, Norbert Wiener, Ross Ashby, Lawrence Frank, and many others. A bibliography of Heinz's publications encompassed nearly 200 articles, chapters in books, interviews, and web page documentaries in fields as diverse as: cybernetics, epistomology, electrical engineering, neuroscience, mathematics, psychology and psychotherapy, learning and education, and computers. Rather than his ever writing a text or reference book on cybernetics under his own authorship, in his own unique pedagogical style, he had his own students at the University of Illinois (1974) decide on what the contents and who the contributors to such a textbook should be--and to compile, write, edit and publish this textbook as their "final project" for their course in cybernetics. This book, Cynernetics of Cybernetics, is still in print (now in its Second Edition) and is a classic work in this field--and is available from Future Systems, Inc. (Orders may be faxed to: 612-920-0223; phone orders: 612-920-0060). A more extensive personal memorial about Heinz and his work will follow. In the meantime, see the article and excerpts of an extensive interview with Heinz from August, 2001, co-authored by Michelle Norman and Ted Kahn, which was just published on the Converge magazine web site. Please also see articles and interviews with Heinz and other friends/colleagues at: http://www.univie.ac.at/constructivism/people.html, and Heinz' web page at: http://www.univie.ac.at/constructivism/HvF.htm Heinz was, above all, an incredible educator, a man filled with a love of inquiry and lifelong learning, and a very gifted, caring and playful teacher. Below is a photo of Heinz talking with our sons (and demonstating a remarkable mechanical hand-held calculating machine), taken at his home in Pescadero about 5-6 years ago: May Heinz's memory be for a blessing for his dear wife, Mai, for his family, and all of us who were touched by his love and humanism--and for the many more people who will continue to learn from his ideas in the future. -Ted, Frona, Yoni and Aaron Kahn