Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across

This article proposes a hyper-relational theory of the world, conjoining cybernetics, information theory, general systems theory, the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari and quantum physics in order to show that systems and relations go all the way down, all the way across.  I give an exposition of S...

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Main Author: Tim Gough
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: TU Delft OPEN Publishing 2021-06-01
Series:Footprint
Online Access:https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/footprint/article/view/4950
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author Tim Gough
author_facet Tim Gough
author_sort Tim Gough
collection DOAJ
description This article proposes a hyper-relational theory of the world, conjoining cybernetics, information theory, general systems theory, the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari and quantum physics in order to show that systems and relations go all the way down, all the way across.  I give an exposition of Shannon’s information theory, and draw connections with quantum mechanics. The work of Bertalanffy is discussed and its relationship to philosophy and quantum mechanics outlined.  I then critique the naïve, realist account of reality; what is proposed in its place is a hyper-relational ontology whereby entities (being) are epiphenomena of relations (becoming). The implications of this ontology in relation to architecture are discussed by contrasting it with, on the one hand, a hylomorphic approach to the essence of architecture (which foregrounds entities) and, on the other, a hermeneutic approach (which foregrounds meaning).  Buildings are epiphenomena of broader political, interpersonal, ecological and essentially relational matters, assemblages, systems and interplays, and this hyper-relationality is the ontology of architecture.
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publisher TU Delft OPEN Publishing
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series Footprint
spelling doaj-art-5e37a3a718b745c68b7331fc56a5afca2025-08-20T03:34:32ZengTU Delft OPEN PublishingFootprint1875-15041875-14902021-06-0115110.7480/footprint.15.1.4950Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way AcrossTim Gough0Kingston University School of Architecture and LandscapeThis article proposes a hyper-relational theory of the world, conjoining cybernetics, information theory, general systems theory, the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari and quantum physics in order to show that systems and relations go all the way down, all the way across.  I give an exposition of Shannon’s information theory, and draw connections with quantum mechanics. The work of Bertalanffy is discussed and its relationship to philosophy and quantum mechanics outlined.  I then critique the naïve, realist account of reality; what is proposed in its place is a hyper-relational ontology whereby entities (being) are epiphenomena of relations (becoming). The implications of this ontology in relation to architecture are discussed by contrasting it with, on the one hand, a hylomorphic approach to the essence of architecture (which foregrounds entities) and, on the other, a hermeneutic approach (which foregrounds meaning).  Buildings are epiphenomena of broader political, interpersonal, ecological and essentially relational matters, assemblages, systems and interplays, and this hyper-relationality is the ontology of architecture.https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/footprint/article/view/4950
spellingShingle Tim Gough
Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across
Footprint
title Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across
title_full Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across
title_fullStr Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across
title_full_unstemmed Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across
title_short Systems and Relations All the Way Down, All the Way Across
title_sort systems and relations all the way down all the way across
url https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/footprint/article/view/4950
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