An introduction to cybernetics
Open accessAbstract
Many workers in the biological sciencesphysiologists, psycholo- gists, sociologistsare interested in cybernetics and would like to apply its methods and techniques to their own speciality.Many have, however, been prevented from taking up the subject by an impression that its use must be preceded by a long study of elec- tronics and advanced pure mathematics; for they have formed the impression that cybernetics and these subjects are inseparable.The author is convinced, however, that this impression is false.The basic ideas of cybernetics can be treated without reference to electronics, and they are fundamentally simple; so although advanced techniques may be necessary for advanced applications, a great deal can be done, especially in the biological sciences, by the use of quite simple techniques, provided they are used with a clear and deep 121
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At a fine enough level, even riding a bicycle becomes a black box problem for Ashby because few people can explain the subatomic forces involved.
“At a fine enough level of granularity, a task as basic as riding a bicycle becomes a black box problem for Ashby, as very few of us could explain the operation of forces at a subatomic level propelling our motion forward [ 3 ].”
From Positioning Paradata: A Conceptual Frame for AI Processual Documentation in Archives and Recordkeeping Contexts (2023) · cites this paper as [3]
Ashby theorized methods for reconstructing black box logic through experimentation as early as 1956.
“Ashby [ 3 ] theorizes similar methods for reconstructing the logic of black box systems through experimentation as early as 1956.”
From Positioning Paradata: A Conceptual Frame for AI Processual Documentation in Archives and Recordkeeping Contexts (2023) · cites this paper as [3]
The black box problem is not new; Ashby's 1956 cybernetics treated it as a logical and ontological issue.
“An early approach to the black box is provided in Ross Ashby's 1956 Introduction to Cybernetics , which poses the problem as a logical and ontological one.”
From Positioning Paradata: A Conceptual Frame for AI Processual Documentation in Archives and Recordkeeping Contexts (2023) · cites this paper as [3]
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“This emphasis on agent-environment coupling echoes earlier cybernetic approaches (Ashby, 1956; Wiener, 1948 ), though Gibson’s affordances offer a more action-oriented framework for understanding these interactions.”
- Authors
- Ashby, W. R.
- Corresponding author
- Ashby, William Ross.
- Venue
- Wiley eBooks
- Publisher
- J. Wiley
- Published
- 1956
- OpenAlex
- W2111030512
- Cited by
- 7,578
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 273 · 2025: 223 · 2024: 176 · 2023: 227 · 2022: 255 · 2021: 234 · 2020: 320 · 2019: 217 · 2018: 253 · 2017: 257 · 2016: 295 · 2015: 291 · 2014: 241 · 2013: 241 · 2012: 262
- FWCI
- 94.60
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Wiley eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Internet Archive (Internet Archive) (submittedVersion)
- Biodiversity Heritage Library (Smithsonian Institution) (submittedVersion)
- CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
- DSpace Biblioteca Universidad de Talca (Universidad de Talca) (submittedVersion)
- PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Cybernetics and Technology in Society
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Diverse Interdisciplinary Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Keywords
- cybernetics, biology, physiology, psychology, sociology, control theory, feedback
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