CALL FOR PAPERS
for a topical issue of Open Philosophy
(NEO)CYBERNETIC PATHS FOR AN EPISTEMOLOGY OF DIGITAL CULTURES


Open Philosophy (https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/OPPHIL/html) invites submissions for the topical issue “(Neo)Cybernetic Paths for an Epistemology of Digital Cultures,” edited by Arantzazu Saratxaga Arregi (University of Applied Arts, Vienna) and Deniz Yenimazman (University of Bayreuth)

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,

· free language assistance for authors from non-English speaking regions.

Because Open Philosophy is published under an Open Access model, as a rule, publication costs should be covered by so called Article Publishing Charges (APC), paid by authors, their affiliated institutions, funders or sponsors.

Authors without access to publishing funds are encouraged to discuss potential discounts or waivers with Managing Editor of the journal Katarzyna Tempczyk (katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com) before submitting their manuscripts.


HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions will be collected by December 31, 2021. There are no specific length limitations.

To submit an article for the special issue of Open Philosophy, authors are asked to access the online submission system at:

http://www.editorialmanager.com/opphil/

Please choose as article type: (Neo)Cybernetic 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) and Deniz Yenimazman (deniz@pixelkraut.net)
In case of technical or financial questions, please contact Managing Editor of the journal Katarzyna Tempczyk (katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com).

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