Varn Vlog Solo: Introductions to Cybernetics -- Viable Systems Model, part 1

Ironically, I start at the end of the viable systems model, system five, or the “ethos” of the system. I discuss how this is seen in multiple kinds of systems using Stafford Beer’s “Brain of the Firm” model of a viable system. I also talk about some of the pitfalls of this level of systemic development.

Book and Print Sources:

Beer, Stafford (1972) Brain of the Firm; Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, London, Herder and Herder, USA.

Beer, Stafford (1972) Managing modern complexity, in Landau, R., ed. 'Complexity', Architectural Design October 1972, pp. 629-632.

Beer, Stafford (1974) Decision and Control. John Wiley & Sons, London and New York.

Links:

Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn
Audio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )
Intro Music: Spaceship Revolution by Etienne Roussel (Grim Intro), Bitterlake (Political Intro), Bitter Lake (Strange Intro)
Outro Music: Bitterlake Intro and Outro Video Design: Djene Bajalan (Grim Intro, Political Intro, Outro), Bitterlake (Strange Intro)

[AlexCermak-bhvd]

Thank You for explaining this and providing reading material. In your other video it was mentioned that a lot of people use the Viable Systems Model but they never give up what the secret sauce is. Years ago I was interested in backyard aquaponincs and I read somewhere that that the more fish you have in a tank paradoxically the more resilient the system is, but the more fragile your system is because all your fish can be wiped out at once. I found the idea interesting and I thought that this concept can explain a lot of things in the world, but I had no idea what to google to learn more.

[hansfrankfurter]

Tremendous content. I can barely keep up with this!

Thanks Varn

[Vaulable]

Thank you for this video, It explains simply and directly!

[thomasjones]

We're looking at another 5 level system --- It is very interesting that system 3 (auditing/consistency) maps directly onto neurotic obsession/university discourse if we make a 1 - 1 mapping to the Lacanian structures (I would suspect that there is something contradictory necessary in system 5 which isn't quite covered here though).

[TheYoungtrust]

It's crazy, I'm getting a cs degree, and you are the one introducing me to this. Maybe you learn this in engineering or business.

[namesnotreal]

Can you link the Kyle Thompson pamphlet?

[tormunnvii]

Yes! Cybernetics! I need to learn this stuff, it seems to have the most potential for assisting a socialist project, out of all the leftist theory I have seen out there so far. Please, Keep it coming Varn, this is great! Thank you.