OBJECTIFICATION

Charles François (2004). OBJECTIFICATION, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2325.

Collection	International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics
Year	2004
Vol. (num.)	2(2)
ID	◀ 2325 ▶
Object type	General information, Epistemology, ontology or semantics, Methodology or model

J.van GIGCH writes: “In EINSTEIN's science, ”objectification“ consists of inventing mathematical equations whose ”objects “are mathematical entities . The senses and perception do not intervene in any way, except to the extent that observational data become ”objects“ of theoretical statements”(2002, p. 202)

van Gigch comments: “The extend to which these objects are conceived independently of perception or of empirical data is somewhat debatable”(Ibid)

According to von FOERSTER such independence is a delusion. Einstein himself “conceives a threefold distinction between:

a)the external world

b)the observer 's perception of that external world; and

c)our notions of it“ (Ibid)

Accordingly, EINSTEIN wrote: “As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality , they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality”

The test is not about certainty or truth , but about practical usefulness.

See also