Demons—magic—cybernetics : On the introduction to natural magic as told by Heinz von Foerster

Abstract

This paper concerns von Foerster's interest in magic practices in former times as well as his observation of new kinds of demons, especially that demon which is acknowledged to be the paradigm for regulation: Maxwell's demon. Von Foerster called it the patron saint of cybernetics; however, von Foerster, who is the patron saint of the cybernetics of cybernetics, was playing the magician himself. More specifically, the principle of order from noise can be proved to be the result of a certain demonic action which this paper will attempt to elucidate.