CALL FOR PAPERS

for a topical issue of Open Philosophy


NEOCYBERNETIC PATHS FOR AN EPISTEMOLOGY OF DIGITAL CULTURES



Open Philosophy (www.degruyter.com/view/j/opphil) invites submissions for the topical issue “Neocybernetic Paths for an Epistemology of Digital Cultures,” edited by Arantzazu Saratxaga Arregi (University of Applied Arts, Vienna), Deniz Yenimazman (University of Bayreuth), and Thomas Ballhausen (Mozarteum University).



DESCRIPTION

The cybernetic programme of operational control and regulation policy is today a raw reality, predominantly as a dystopia. Planetary governmentality can be micropolitically controlled by autonomous regulatory technologies, making the principles of cybernetics ubiquitous. The absoluteness of the presence of cybernetic technologies to regulate socio-political spheres has contributed decisively to the crisis of the social-democratic and humanist worldview. Overall, socio-cybernetic traces and concepts (artificial intelligence, big data, deep learning, complex systems and so forth) are more relevant today than ever. They do not exactly suggest the end of cybernetics, but rather its successful completion as an interdisciplinary methodological and practical set of concepts. Accordingly, we are happy to take up the challenge of reflecting on the syncretic style of thinking cybernetics that has led to today's post-digital constellation of the human condition and to rethink its traces and reception. To this end, we do not want to revoke or praise the cybernetic approaches, but rather take the path of the excluded third: pointing out perspectives, revisiting lost paths, pointing to new directions of analysis.

This volume aims to draw a line between the classical cybernetic schools and sub-disciplines on the one hand and their implications in cultural theories and the contemporary positions influenced by them on the other. We want to refer complexity back to its genealogical roots and in this respect critically trace the realisation of operationally closed systems and self-organising processes.

We invite submissions addressing, among other topics:

· History and historiography of cybernetics from the perspective of its hybridisation and syncretic school of thought - with different places of origin and discourse orders,

· Inter- and trans-disciplinarity of cybernetic research,

· Relational ontologies and assemblage theory in relation to cybernetics,

· Operative closure theories,

· Observing systems theories,

· Self-organisational forms of research and insight,

· Epistemologies of complexity,

· Ecological and economical implementations of cybernetics - cycles and control systems in economical and ecological systems,

· Heterarchic organisational structures and technological agency - organisational forms of the political,

· Cybernetic principles, strategies, tactics, practices within the fine arts.



Authors publishing their articles in the special issue will benefit from:

· transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review,

· efficient route to fast-track publication and full advantage of De Gruyter's e-technology,

· no publishing fees.



HOW TO SUBMIT

Authors interested in contributing to the topical issue are asked to send extended abstracts to the guest editors Arantzazu Saratxaga (arantzan@gmail.com), Deniz Yenimazman (deniz@pixelkraut.net), and Thomas Ballhausen (thomas.ballhausen@moz.ac.at) by November 30, 2022.

Full papers will be collected from April 1 to April 30, 2023, via the on-line submissions system http://www.editorialmanager.com/opphil/

Please choose as article type: Neocybernetic Paths.

Before submission the authors should carefully read over the Instruction for Authors, available at: https://www.degruyter.com/publication/journal_key/OPPHIL/downloadAsset/OPPHIL_Instruction%20for%20Authors.pdf

All contributions will undergo critical review before being accepted for publication.

Further questions about this thematic issue can be addressed to Arantzazu Saratxaga (arantzan@gmail.com), Deniz Yenimazman (deniz@pixelkraut.net) and Thomas Ballhausen (thomas.ballhausen@moz.ac.at).

In case of technical questions, please contact Managing Editor of the journal Katarzyna Tempczyk (katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com)