UMWELT LEHRE
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3667 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Human sciences |
The specific knowledge any living system acquires about its ambient or environment (Umwelt, in German).
- “Umwelt Lehre” leads to specific “window perception”, different for each living system.
This concept was introduced by J.von UEXKÚLL (see 1979). According to L.von BERTALANFFY: “It essentially amounts to the statement that, from the great cake of reality, every living organism cuts a slice, which it can perceive and to which it can react owing to its psycho-physical organization, that is the structure of receptor and effector organs” (1962, p. 73).
As stated by BERTALANFFY, von UEXKÚLL and KRISZAT have presented fascinating pictures how the same section of nature may look as seen by various animals. (see 1934)
- “According to von UEXKÚLL's expression, any organism, so to speak, cuts out from the multiplicity of surrounding objects a small number of characteristics to which it reacts and whose ensemble forms its ”ambient“ (Umwelt). All the rest is non-existent for that particular organism” (1962, p.73).
This Umwelt concept may seemingly be applied also to social systems, wherein a consensual psycho-mental Umwelt becomes absolutely dominant, and blinds the members of the group to anything else.