Suchergebnisse

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The articles presents a short outline of the history of the Biological Computer Laboratory created in 1958 as a special research unit within the Department for Electrical Engineering of the University of Illinois, Urbana. The founder of the laboratory, the Austrian-born Heinz von Foerster, part of the cybernetics-movement of the 1940ies and 1950ies, tried to develop and to "apply" findings of the so-called Macy-group to biology with a special emphasis to problems of perception. The consequent transdisciplinary approach of the BCL led to certain conflicts with the main stream in the fields involved. Other conflicts emerged on grounds of teaching experiments undertaken since the late 1960ies. In the seventies the laboratory failed in substituting diminishing research funds from military research ressources. In the consequence, the BCL was closed. Ideas produced there had a major impact on other cognitive domains especially on the social sciences in Europe. ; The articles presents a short outline of the history of the Biological Computer Laboratory created in 1958 as a special research unit within the Department for Electrical Engineering of the University of Illinois, Urbana. The founder of the laboratory, the Austrian-born Heinz von Foerster, part of the cybernetics-movement of the 1940ies and 1950ies, tried to develop and to "apply" findings of the so-called Macy-group to biology with a special emphasis to problems of perception. The consequent transdisciplinary approach of the BCL led to certain conflicts with the main stream in the fields involved. Other conflicts emerged on grounds of teaching experiments undertaken since the late 1960ies. In the seventies the laboratory failed in substituting diminishing research funds from military research ressources. In the consequence, the BCL was closed. Ideas produced there had a major impact on other cognitive domains especially on the social sciences in Europe.

The article discusses some problems of collective identities in Austria's contemporary history. The basic argument is, that persisting identities depend on the ability to establish difference, margins and distinctions against ,the other' and against ,history' as well. Some of the key-dates of Austrian history are analysed as ,abutments' of historical identities. The authors emphasize the basic role of social and political structures and the existence of moral and cultural entrepreneurship in the process of the construction and maintenance of (more or less) stabile identities. Bargaining for what ,Austrian' legitimately means became a more and more eminent element in that process. ; The article discusses some problems of collective identities in Austria's contemporary history. The basic argument is, that persisting identities depend on the ability to establish difference, margins and distinctions against ,the other' and against ,history' as well. Some of the key-dates of Austrian history are analysed as ,abutments' of historical identities. The authors emphasize the basic role of social and political structures and the existence of moral and cultural entrepreneurship in the process of the construction and maintenance of (more or less) stabile identities. Bargaining for what ,Austrian' legitimately means became a more and more eminent element in that process.