Second thoughts on Gregory Bateson and Alfred Korzybski

Abstract

Purpose

The paper is intended to show, that Bateson and Korzybski have a strong common ground for their “ecological”, respectively, “anti‐aristotelian” critique of modern mentality insofar, as both reject the metaphysical doctrine of identity, identified by both as “Aristotelianism”. Instead of this, they postulate a concept of the mind based on differences (like the map‐territory‐relation) and patterns or mathematical structures.

Design/methodology/approach

By analysing the various facets of Aristotelian tradition, including the critical impact of logic, the paralysing effect of dogmatic scholasticism and the explosive force of negation, the text demonstrate that the identity of substance can, depending on context, promote the adventure of knowledge or forestall it.

Findings

The reflection of context implies, also to reflect the context of context and so forth. After all, there is no justification for postulating substitutes of the absolute such as Korzybski's “Alpha‐Object” oder Bateson's “MindGod”.

Originality/value

Original in the paper is the revision of Korzybski's map‐territory‐relation. As both, map and territory, are abstractions, a map can promise the territory as a score promises the music. So, Korzybski's famous reminder should read: “A map is not yet the territory”.

Citation

Günter Holl, H. (2007), "Second thoughts on Gregory Bateson and Alfred Korzybski", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 7/8, pp. 1047-1054. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920710777829