Phenomenology of Communication As Anticipatory System

The purpose of this paper is first to give a definition of anticipatory systems, then suggest a phenomenological implication of such a system. ln order to do this, the shortcomings of the Western view of knowledge based on Aristotelian and Platonic views which has dominated most of the world historical references, in comparison to Eastern philosophies, are criticized. The recent developments of autopoietic knowing and its influence on a constructivist orientation to knowledge, although significantly improved over the said views of Aristotle and Plato, are also criticized for their shortcomings. This is due to the fact that it only takes into consideration the conscious intentional aspect of human mentality, rather than a holistic view of knowing. It is further suggested that anticipatory systems viewed from the constructivist perspective faces a similar criticism. We therefore propose a phenomenological approach to knowing. In addition we suggest a model, namely mythopoietic communication, which overcomes some of the said criticism addressed at autopoietic knowing. We find no better concepts than information theory, and the phenomenology of communication that have the capability to provide us with this objective. That is, information in its very being, is the constituent of Being, it is inherent in the physical, biological, socio-cultural, as well as spiritual aspect of Being. Furthermore, the unity of Being is a text through which the pattern of behavior of parts and the whole are anticipatory in nature. Mythopoietic communication, our proposed Metaphenomenological model, we suggest is capable of addressing both issues of physicobiological, as well as archetypal meanings and symbolic dimensions of mythology, therefore the knowing of the totality of Being. Our proposed model represents our idea of bringing together all aspects of our world. The conceptual framework of the model consists of following components: the first component is information and communication theory. This theory is based on the concept of entropy that encompasses the opposite forces of nature and their transformation into one another. It deals with physical, and soco-cultural issues, whether they are material, meaning, or symbols. The second component is the phenomenology of communication, whether transcendental or immanent. The third component is autopoiesis dealing with biological entanglement and cybernetic closure. Finally, mythopoietic communication as a composite concept, which deals with the two diverse aspects of Being, namely, physical and biological (which is dealt with autopoieticly), and mythology, with a broad spectrum covering the unmeasureable aspects of human culture, including, meaning, religion, and spirituality.