Designing freedom
by Stafford Beer · first published 1974
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
An introduction to Stafford Beer's systems thinking that connects systems analysis to philosophical and political questions. It is a good starting point, available in book or free lecture form.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In these 1973 Massey Lectures, Stafford Beer states the case for a new science of systems theory and cybernetics. His essays examine such issues as "The Real Threat to All We Hold Most Dear," "The Discarded Tools of Modern Man," "A Liberty Machine in Prototype," "Science in the Service of Man," "The Future That Can Be Demanded Now," "The Free Man in a Cybernetic World." Designing Freedom ponders the possibilities of liberty in a cybernetic world.
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…made all across the board. For specific programming languages, I think Elixir is a great investment. Edit: Some systems reading if anyone is curious: * Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows * Designing Freedom by Stafford Beer. I also recommend anything by Stafford Beer. * Anything by Christopher Alexander * Systems Thinking For Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended…
on “Ask HN: Top Skills to Learn for 2023?” ↗…our hands up in the air and not trying to investigate them. Gravity wasn’t always well crystallized. It took us time to develop and understand it. I highly recommend Stafford Beer’s writings and the Designing Freedom book and/or lectures. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/the-1973-cbc-massey-lectures-...
on “Adam Curtis Explains It All” ↗Excellent recommendation. I'll add Designing Freedom by Stafford Beer as a great intro. Available as a book and a series of free lectures here: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/the-1973-cbc-massey-lectures-... You hit the nail on the head with the "disappointing…
on “The cybernetics scare and the origins of the Internet (2009)” ↗…guardian (uk) circa 2003 of all places. If you want a better picture of the political situation check out "a promise to the dead" (by ariel dorfman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097260/). You can also read designing freedom (written right after the coupe) to get a solid idea of what stafford beer was driving at http://ada.evergreen.edu/~arunc/texts/cybernetics/beer/book....
on “Project Cybersyn, a 1971-73 Chilean Experiment in Computer-Assisted Economy” ↗This isn't a new idea, see Project Cybersyn[1]. A few books / works by Stafford Beer, who architected much of that project, that I recommend reading. - Brain Of The Firm - Designing Freedom, 1973 Massey Lectures[2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Cybersyn [2] https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/the-1973-cbc-massey-lectures-...
on “AI will replace middle management before robots replace hourly workers” ↗I recommend: - Designing Freedom by Stafford Beer - Brain of the Firm by Stafford Beer - Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
on “We must seek a widely-applicable science of systems” ↗…not only as a work of relating to systems analysis but on a philisophical and political level at the same time. Too bad most of his books are in the hundreds of dollars. If you get the chance download Designing Freedom. I will see if I can find a link again.
on “Books That Changed My Life” ↗I get it to a degree, but it's a very dangerous line of thinking to write off systems level thinking as conspiracies. Stafford Beer points out, as an analogy in Designing Freedom, that the idea of an all encompassing force that affects everyone on Earth is hard to fathom, and yet gravity is an accepted idea today, where it wasn't at the start. Making connections between wide ranging…
on “Adam Curtis Explains It All” ↗…in holistic and productive ways? I have The Fractal Organization: Creating sustainable organizations with the Viable System Model by Patrick Hoverstadt, Administrative Behavior by Herbert Simon, and Designing Freedom and Brain of the Firm by Stafford Beer on my docket. Another one is Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone. But I am curious if people have other suggestions, including atypical ones,…
on “Excess Management Is Costing the U.S. $3T Per Year (2016)” ↗