CYBERNETICS FORUM THE PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CYBERNETICS Spring/Summer 197 6 VolumeVIII Nos.1&2 IN THIS ISSUE Editorial: Open Letter to Our Readers, V.G. Drozin .. ... .. ....................... ............ i Articles: The Cybernetics Thesis and Mechanism, Martin Ringle .... ............... ..... .. .. ... 5 Philosophical Precursors of Cybernetics, Richard Herbert Howe .......................... 11 Cybernetics and Yom Kippur, Melvin F. Shakun ............... .......................... 13 Cybernetic Research Applied to National Needs, Harold K. Hughes ............. .. .. 15 Cybernetics and the Oillssue, Herbert W. Robinson .. .. .. ...... ......................... 19 Cybernetic Factars in Economic Systems, Edward M. Duke ... .. .......................... 21 Ethical Dimensions in Design and Use of a Socio-economic Model, Frederick Kile .... .... 25 The Different Meanings of Cybernetics, V.G. Drozin ............... ..... ..... .. ........... 28 On Dissipative Structures of 8oth Physical-and lnformation-Space, Roland Fischer ... .... 31 Analysis of Brain Software: A Cyberntic Approach, N.A. Coulter, Jr......... .. ...... .. ... 35 An Analysis of the Theory of Knowledge in Powers' Model of Brain, Stuart Katz ............ 41 Toward a Philosophy of History, Robert Sinai ............................................ 50 Toward a Unitary Concept of Mind and Mentallllness, George T.L. Land and Christina Kenneally .......... ................................. 57 Lang Term Ga ins from Early Intervention Through Technology: A Seventh Year Report, 1968-1975, Doreen Ray Steg, et. al. ......... .. ................. 67 Book Review: To Draw a Line, John R. Kirk ........... ................... ............... 70 Features: From the Desk of the President, Mark N. Ozer ....... ..... ....... ..... .. ..... ...... ..... ii Conference Calendar ...................... .............. ..... ............. ....... .. 49 About the Authors .................. .............. .. .. ..... ....... ....... .... .... 71 Editorial Policy and Information to Authors ................. .......... ................. 74 (cJ 1977 American Society for Cybernetics BOARD OF EDITORS Editor V.G. DROZIN Department of Physics Gertrude Herrmann Robert M. Landau Buckne/1 University Conference Calendar Editor SIA Science Information Assoc. Lewisburg, PA 17837 1131 University Blvd. West, No. 2122 3514 Plyers Mi// Road Si/ver Spring, MD 20902 Kensington, MD 20795 ASSOCIATE EDITORS Harold K. Hughes Christopher Longyear Charles I. Bartfeld The State University College Book Review Editor School of Business Administraion, Potsdam, NY 13767 Department of English American University University of Washington Mass. & Nebraska Aves. N. W. Akira lshikawa Seattle, WA 98195 Washington, D.C. 20016 Graduate School of Business Administration, New York Mark N. Ozer N. A. Coulter, Jr. University The George Washington Department of Surgery 100 Trinity Place University School of Medicine Curriculum in Biomedical New York, NY 10006 and Health Seiences Engineering 3000 Connecticut AvenueN. W. University of South Carolina Frederick Kile Washington, D.C. 20008 School of Medicine Aid Association for Lutherans Chape/ Hilf, NC 27514 Appleton, W/54911 Doreen Ray Steg Department of Human Charles H. Dym Felix F. Kopstein Behavior & Development, Dym, Frank & Company 1913 Walnut Street Drexel University 1875 Connecticut Ave. , N. W. Philadelphia, PA 19103 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Washington, DC 20009 Julius Korein Paul Studer Roland Fischer ELG Laboratory, Bellevue Hospital School of Library and Information Maryland Psychiatrie Research Dept. of Neurology, New York Science, State University College Center University Medica/ Center of Artsand Science Box 3235 550 Fifth Avenue Genesco, NY 14454 Baltimore, MD21228 New York, NY 10016 OFFICERS- 1977 Mark N. Ozer, President Louise G. Becker, Vice President (Educational) Israel Feld man, Vice President (Administrative) Gertrude Herrmann, Secretary David D. Bergan, Treasurer DIRECTORS ASIS LIAISON Roy Hermann, Chairman of the Board Eleanor lson Franklin Laurence B. Heilprin Mark N. Ozer, President (ex officio) Carl Hammer University of Maryland Gary D. Bearden William E. Hanna, Jr. 4800 Berwyn Hause Road Melvin S. Day Kumpati S. Narendra College Park, MD 20740 Bonnie W. Dunning Carlis A. Taylor Charles H. Dym Heinz Von Foerster Laurence B. Heilprin, Director-at-Large PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED BY: Western Periodicals Co. 13000 Raymer Street North Hollywood, Calitornia 91605 (213) TR5-0555 American Scciety SUBSCRIPTION RATES: for Cyternetics ASC Cybernetics Forum Journal of Cybernetics and Information Science Both Publications Domestic $35.00 per year Domestic $55.00 per year Domestic $80.00 per year Foreign $40.00 per year Foreign $60.00 per year Foreign $90.00 per year EDITORIAL Open Letter to Our Readers I apologize for the long interruption in the publication of this issue of the "Cybernetics Forum." This was due to a number of factors beyond my con­ trol, including a change in the editor and publisher. Unfortunately, for per­ sonal reasons Dr. Milton Kotz, whose skillful editorship did so much to improve the Journal, feit compelled to resign. ln the search for a new editor I was recommended. After some consideration I accepted the position. As the new editor of the "Cybernetics Forum," I would like to express my views about what I think would be a desirable relationship between the Journal and its readers. I feel that the Journal should have as close a con­ tact with its readers as possible. lt should be realized that we are a relatively small society and that this Journal should bring us closer together. Therefore, I invite you to write me about your professional activity involving cyber­ netics, publications, awards, promotions, etc. The major function of the "Cybernetics Forum" should be to serve as your forum. To promote this role, I intend to publish regularly articles on topics which would hopefully inspire creative discussion. I expect that these articles would stimulate controversy and interest and thus increase reader-journal interaction. Such articles would include the various views on cybernetics, reductionism vs. anti-reductionism, cybernetics and teaching-learning pro­ cesses, cybernetics and the solution of social problems, cybernetics and re ligion, cybernetics and the arts, and the philosophy of cybernetics. lt seems to methat in the post, these potentially controversial and exciting issues have been somewhat ignored. Finally, I would like to explain the focus of cybernetics in the "Cybernetics Forum." ln this issue, the article "The Different Meanings of Cybernetics" points out the two rather opposing views about cybernetics. According to Norbert Wiener and Gordon Pask, we should Iimit cybernetics to mathema­ tically describable systems and their corresponding models. On the other hand, Stafford Beer argues that cybernetics should deal only with the ex­ ceedingly complex systemssuch as society, the brain, etc. which cannot be mathematically described. Since the first point of view is represented in our sister journal, "Journal of Cybernetics and Information Science" (editor Kumpati S. Narendra), it seems to be only logical that the "Cybernetics Forum" should focus on the latter. Thus, this journal would concentrate primarily, but of course not exclusively, on the cybernetic approach to extremely com­ plex systems . I feel that the most surprising, interesting and useful develop­ ment of cybernetics will take place in the domain of such systems. V . G . Drozin, Editor From the Desk of the President The post year has been a difficult one for ASC but one which has pre­ sented apportunifies as weil. Since my election in early January, 1976, I have seen 'my role in this organization to reestablish means of communication concerning cybernetics. The Forum of the ASC has been reestablished on a regular basis with this issue. Dr. Drozin has become the new editor and the Western Periodicals Company has become the new publisher. This same company is the publisher of the new Journal of Cybernetics and Information Science, whose second issue is ready for distribution. lt has been inex­ cusable for a society devoted to information and communication not to have an ongoing basis some means of communication with its members and the general public. Such efforts to reestablish the journals have now been successful but can remain successful only with the continued contribution of material. The communication of ideas concerning cybernetics also depends upon the presence of the ASC in conferences and other symposia. A full scale conference is now being planned for the Spring of 1977 under the auspices of ASC for the firsttime in several years. This meeting is in the context of the ideas expressed by Norbert Wiener in the field of cybernetics leading to a morehuman use of human beings. At this meeting, the value of cybernetics has been to highlight the interaction between the individual and large scale systems to emphasize the enhancement of human control. I believe that cybernetics as a method of thinking has enormaus potential for the humanization of systems and it is to that purpose that I believe that ASC should provide leadership. With the renewal of both the journals and meetings as the rationale for ASC, there is the potential for the renewal of membership which supports such activities. Mark N. Ozer, President The Cybernetic Thesis and Mechanism Martin Ringle State University College New Pa ltz, New York 12561 I. The Problem of Mechanism etc., feit