Content by Harish Jose
Euthyphro’s ComplexityIs complexity intrinsic or in the eyes of the beholder?
Thu, 10/22/2026 - 12:02
In this article I’ll be looking at the shape of this question regarding complexity that comes from Plato. In the Euthyphro dialogue, Socrates asks whether a thing is pious because the gods love it, or the gods love it because it is pious. If piety…
The Ladder That Never Comes DownA single rung means nothing without context
Wed, 10/07/2026 - 12:02
In my earlier writing, I’ve leaned on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s ladder. This is the closing move of his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, where once you have climbed through the propositions you discard them because they have “served their purpose.” I’ve…
The Beginner’s Mind and the Ethical ImperativeDon’t abandon what you know, but remain open to what you don’t
Wed, 07/08/2026 - 12:01
In this article I’m looking at Shunryū Suzuki’s beginner’s mind in Zen and Heinz von Foerster’s ethical imperative. Readers of my blog know that I love connecting the dots often in seemingly varying fields. Suzuki said something useful: “In the…
The Shape That Does Not ReturnLooking at reversibility and asking what makes an optimization safe
Thu, 04/09/2026 - 12:02
The great systems thinker Russell Ackoff had a provocation that stayed with me: A system isn’t the sum of its parts. It’s the product of their interactions. He used a simple example. Take the best engine from one car, the best transmission from…
On Viability as TruthMultiple paths can work, but the lock still has to open
Wed, 04/01/2026 - 12:01
I am exploring what I think is a fundamental question in epistemology: What does it mean to say something is true? I want to approach this through the lens of cybernetic constructivism. I’ll start with a question about pi, which feels fitting given…
When the Map Becomes More Coherent Than the TerritoryThe domain of coordination is where language operates
Thu, 02/26/2026 - 12:02
This article is inspired by the ideas of cybernetics, Martin Heidegger, and Nassim Taleb. I’m looking at what I think is the largest danger of large language models (LLMs). LLMs are extraordinarily proficient in the domain of language, and that…
Information From a Cybernetic ViewpointRevisiting Gregory Bateson’s formulation
Thu, 02/05/2026 - 12:03
I want to revisit the notion of information from a cybernetic viewpoint, drawing primarily from Gregory Bateson’s well-known formulation that information is the difference that makes a difference. This definition doesn’t merely redefine information…
Throwing the Fish Back Into the WaterRe-entry as a tool to dismantle cognitive blind spots
Wed, 01/28/2026 - 12:01
In this article, I am refining my thoughts on re-entry as a wonderful tool to tackle cognitive blind spots. A common saying states that a fish doesn’t know it’s in water. The phrase is usually offered as a comment on unexamined assumptions. The fish…
On Self-Deception in Systems ThinkingAre you willing to live with ambiguity?
Thu, 01/08/2026 - 12:02
In this article I want to spend time with Søren Kierkegaard. I’ve been interested in his ideas because he occupies an unusual place in the history of thought. He’s considered a pioneer of existentialism, and yet he was also a man of faith. Most of…
Minimizing Harm, Maximizing HumanityA recognition that progress and ethics operate according to different logics
Wed, 12/10/2025 - 12:02
In this article I’m looking at a question that’s rarely asked in management: What if the most responsible course of action isn’t to maximize benefit, but to minimize harm? In decision theory, this is expressed as the minimax principle. The idea is…