Gregory Bateson

Gregory Bateson (9 May 1904–4 July 1980) was a British anthropologist, social scientist, linguist and cyberneticist whose work intersected that of many other fields. Some of his most noted writings are to be found in his books, Steps to an Ecology of Mind, 1972, and Mind and Nature, 1980.

Related Topics:
9 May - 1904 - 4 July - 1980 - British - Anthropologist - Social scientist - Linguist - Cyberneticist - Steps to an Ecology of Mind - Mind and Nature

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Bateson was the son of the distinguished geneticist William Bateson.

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Bateson is most famous for developing the "Double Bind" theory of schizophrenia together with one of the world's leading theoreticians in Communication theory Paul Watzlawick, his colleague at the Mental Research Institute of Palo Alto, and for being Margaret Mead's husband. In academic circles he is something of a cult figure whose appeal includes his obscurity, eccentricity and diversity of accomplishment. Still, the rise of interest in holism, systems, and cybernetics have naturally led educators and students to Bateson's published work.

Related Topics:
Double Bind - Schizophrenia - Communication theory - Paul Watzlawick - Margaret Mead

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By his own admission Bateson is widely misunderstood, and the unconventionality of his style might be largely at fault. Bateson did not have much respect for contemporary academic scientific standards of writing, his works have often the form of an essay rather than a scientific paper, he used lot of metaphors and his choice of sources tended to be unusual (for example citing old poets and ignoring recent scientific sources). At the same time, he wrote on a very abstract level. However, many scholars consider his works to contain a great deal of original thought and reward careful reading. He has been a very important inspiration in the field of family therapy.

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One of the threads that connects Bateson's work is an interest in systems theory and cybernetics. Bateson's take on these fields centers upon their relationship to epistemology, and this central interest provides the undercurrents of his thought. His association with the editor and author Stewart Brand was part of a process by which Bateson’s influence widened — for from the 1970s until Bateson’s last years, a broader audience of university students and educated people working in many fields came not only to know his name but also into contact (to varying degrees) with his thought.

Related Topics:
Systems theory - Cybernetics - Epistemology - Stewart Brand

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In 1956, He became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Related Topics:
1956 - Naturalized citizen - United States

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