Closes:
30 Jun 2026
Journal
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Submit your paper here from 1 January 2026
Introduction
Friday, the 13th of November 2026, is Doomsday. According to von Foerster et al. (1960), it is the day when population growth will reach infinity, thus ending the possibilities of humanity to survive. Interestingly enough, it is also the day of Heinz von Foerster’s 115th birthday anniversary, which gives us a good reason to review his contribution to systems research. Heinz von Foerster has been a pioneer in this field, working closely with other leading figures such as John von Neumann, Margaret Mead, Norbert Wiener, Humberto Maturana, Francisco Varela, Gregory Bateson, or Niklas Luhmann (Umpleby, 2008). Originally trained as a physicist, he addressed numerous different topics across many disciplines. Von Foerster has shaped our understanding of second-order cybernetics and contributed significantly to the development of radical constructivism (Scott, 2004). To him, we owe the notion of the trivial machine (von Foerster, 1984), the ethical imperative (von Foerster, 2003), and many other thought-provoking concepts and expressions.
The Doomsday Calculation, of course, is also a provocation. While it concerns a serious issue, is also raises questions about the use of simple mathematics to make predictions of future social development. Setting the date on Friday, the 13th associates it with superstition. Setting it on von Foerster’s birthday adds a sense of humour. Nevertheless, this article is not just a tongue-in-cheek comment on the limitations of formal modelling. Knowing that he was a leading figure of second-order cybernetics, von Foerster et al.’s (1960) article can also be read as a reflection on the possibilities to approach grand challenges in society objectively, and the dangers of ideology and self-referentiality. In this sense, Doomsday is significant for today’s scientific discourse on many levels, showing the topicality of von Foerster’s work in different ways.
The aim of this special issue is to collect articles that discuss Heinz von Foerster’s work from different angles. It invites contributions from former students and collaborators who give first-hand evidence of von Foerster’s teaching and research activities, as well as conceptual and empirical works that make use of his concepts and models to study today’s world and society. Furthermore, we warmly welcome articles that look beyond the mere application of formal constructs to observe the observers in contemporary science. What can we learn from second-order cybernetics for tackling grand challenges today? How do we find a balance between enforcing the necessary steps to cope with climate changes, over-population, pollution, etc., while at the same time leaving systemic structures intact? How do we use science and engineering to create new opportunities for development and expand abilities to choose instead of limiting them? And how can we add a little bit of humour help us to fight desperation in view of all the problems haunting us?
During submission, please make sure that you pick the right special issue and the right article category.
Submissions Information
Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available at: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/kyb
Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/kyb#jlp_author_guidelines
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”.
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else while under review for this journal.
Key deadlines
Opening date for manuscripts submissions: 1 January 2026
Closing date for manuscripts submission: 30 June 2026
References
Scott, B. (2004). Second‐order cybernetics: an historical introduction. Kybernetes, 33(9/10), 1365-1378.
Umpleby, S. A. (2008). A short history of cybernetics in the United States: The origin of cybernetics. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaften, 19(4), 28-40.
Von Foerster, H., Mora, P. M., & Amiot, L. W. (1960). Doomsday: Friday, 13 November, AD 2026: At this date human population will approach infinity if it grows as it has grown in the last two millenia. Science, 132(3436), 1291-1295.
Von Foerster, H. (1984). Principles of self-organization—in a socio-managerial context. In Ulrich, H. & Probst G.J.B. (ed.) Self-organization and management of social systems: Insights, promises, doubts, and questions (pp. 2-24). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Von Foerster, H. (2003). Understanding understanding: essays on cybernetics and cognition. New York: Springer.
See also
Cecchin, G., Barbetta, P., & Toffanetti, D. (2005). Who was von Foerster, anyway? Kybernetes, 34(3/4), 330-342.
Richards, L. D., & Young, R. K. (1996). Propositions on cybernetics and social transformation: Implications of von Foerster’s non‐trivial machine for knowledge processes. Systems Research, 13(3), 363-370.
Von Foerster, H. (1972). Perception of the future and the future of perception. Instructional Science, 1(1), 31-43.
Von Foerster, H. (2018). On constructing a reality. In Preiser, W. (ed.) Environmental design research (pp. 35-46). Routledge.
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