Cybernetics

The Macy Conferences 1946–1953. The Complete Transactions
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-3-0358-0840-7
Verlag: diaphanes

Buch, Englisch, 736 Seiten, Format (B × H): 150 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 1100 g

Reihe: sequenzia

Between 1946 and 1953 ten conferences under the heading "Cybernetics. Circular, Causal, and Feedback Mechanisms in Biological and Social Systems" were held. Sponsored by Josiah Macy Jr., the so-called Macy Conferences mark perhaps the most important event in the history of science after WW II. Using new terms such as "information", "feedback", and "analogical/digital" as starting point, the participants tried to develop a universal theory of regulation and control, that would be applicable to living beings as well as to machines, to economic as well as to mental processes, and to sociological as well as to aesthetical phenomena. These concepts permeate thinking in such diverse fields as biology, neurology, sociology, language studies, computer science, and even psychoanalysis, ecology, politics, and economy. They marked the epoch-making changes from thermodynamics to cybernetics (Wiener), from the disciplinary to control society (Deleuze), and from the industrial to information society (Lyotard).
The Macy Conferences are of special historical/scientific value since they do not deal with completed texts yet, but rather with interdisciplinary negotiations about an emerging epistemology. This edition contains the complete transcription and protocols of all Macy Conference contributions.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Pias, Claus

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Forschung und Information Kybernetik, Systemtheorie, Komplexe Systeme

Inhaltsverzeichnis

9

Editorial Note

11
-

26
The Age of Cybernetics

29
-

40
Introductory Discussion

41
-

65
The Psychological Moment in Perception

66
-

97
The Neurotic Potential and Human Adaptation

98
-

121
Quantum Mechanical Theory of Memory

122
-

159
Possible Mechanisms of Recall and Recognition

160
-

162
Sensory Prosthesises

163
-

164
References (1949)

166

1950. Participants

167
-

168
Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1950)

169

Introductory Remarks

171
-

202
Some of the Problems Concerning Digital Notions in the Central Nervous System

203
-

247
The Manner in Which and Extent to Which Speech Can Be Distorted and Remain Intelligible

248
-

272
The Redundancy of English

273
-

290
Experience in Learning Primitive Languages Through the Use of Learning High Level Linguistic Abstractions

291
-

302
On the Development of Word Meanings

303
-

306
The Development of Language in Early Childhood

307
-

325
The Relationship of Symbolic Function in Language Formation and in Neurosis

326
-

334
Appendix I: Body Symbolization and Development of Language

335

Appendix II: References (1950)

338

1951. Participants

339
-

340
Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1951)

341
-

348
A Note by the Editors (1951)

349
-

381
Communication Patterns in Problem-Solving Groups

382
-

415
Communication Between Men

416
-

445
Communication Between Sane and Insane

446
-

473
Communication Between Animals

474
-

479
Presentation of a Maze-Solving Machine

480
-

509
In Search of Basic Symbols

511
-

523
Appendix I: The Nomenclature of Information Theory

525
-

528
Appendix II: References (1951)

530

1952. Participants

531
-

532
Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1952)

533
-

540
A Note by the Editors (1952)

541
-

574
The Position of Humor in Human Communication

575
-

592
The Place of Emotions in the Feedback Concept

593
-

619
Homeostasis

620
-

628
Discrimination and Learning in Octopus

629
-

633
Reduction of the Number of Possible Boolean Functions

634
-

650
Central Excitation and Inhibition

651
-

653
Mechanical Chess Player

654
-

656
Turbulence as Random Stimulation of Sense Organs

657
-

665
Investigations on Synaptic Transmission

666
-

676
Feedback Mechanism in Cellular Biology

677
-

679
Appendix I: References (1952)

682

1953. Participants

683

Foreword

685
-

686
The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1953)

687
-

688
Introductory Remarks

689
-

696
Studies on Activity of the Brain

697
-

706
Semantic Information and its Measures

707
-

718
Meaning in Language and How it is Acquired

719
-

725
Appendix I: Summary of the Points of Agreement Reached in the Previous Nine Conferences on Cybernetics

727
-

728
Appendix II: References (1953)

729
-

734
Index

9			Editorial Note
11	-	26	The Age of Cybernetics
29	-	40	Introductory Discussion
41	-	65	The Psychological Moment in Perception
66	-	97	The Neurotic Potential and Human Adaptation
98	-	121	Quantum Mechanical Theory of Memory
122	-	159	Possible Mechanisms of Recall and Recognition
160	-	162	Sensory Prosthesises
163	-	164	References (1949)
166			1950. Participants
167	-	168	Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1950)
169			Introductory Remarks
171	-	202	Some of the Problems Concerning Digital Notions in the Central Nervous System
203	-	247	The Manner in Which and Extent to Which Speech Can Be Distorted and Remain Intelligible
248	-	272	The Redundancy of English
273	-	290	Experience in Learning Primitive Languages Through the Use of Learning High Level Linguistic Abstractions
291	-	302	On the Development of Word Meanings
303	-	306	The Development of Language in Early Childhood
307	-	325	The Relationship of Symbolic Function in Language Formation and in Neurosis
326	-	334	Appendix I: Body Symbolization and Development of Language
335			Appendix II: References (1950)
338			1951. Participants
339	-	340	Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1951)
341	-	348	A Note by the Editors (1951)
349	-	381	Communication Patterns in Problem-Solving Groups
382	-	415	Communication Between Men
416	-	445	Communication Between Sane and Insane
446	-	473	Communication Between Animals
474	-	479	Presentation of a Maze-Solving Machine
480	-	509	In Search of Basic Symbols
511	-	523	Appendix I: The Nomenclature of Information Theory
525	-	528	Appendix II: References (1951)
530			1952. Participants
531	-	532	Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1952)
533	-	540	A Note by the Editors (1952)
541	-	574	The Position of Humor in Human Communication
575	-	592	The Place of Emotions in the Feedback Concept
593	-	619	Homeostasis
620	-	628	Discrimination and Learning in Octopus
629	-	633	Reduction of the Number of Possible Boolean Functions
634	-	650	Central Excitation and Inhibition
651	-	653	Mechanical Chess Player
654	-	656	Turbulence as Random Stimulation of Sense Organs
657	-	665	Investigations on Synaptic Transmission
666	-	676	Feedback Mechanism in Cellular Biology
677	-	679	Appendix I: References (1952)
682			1953. Participants
683			Foreword
685	-	686	The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Conference Program (1953)
687	-	688	Introductory Remarks
689	-	696	Studies on Activity of the Brain
697	-	706	Semantic Information and its Measures
707	-	718	Meaning in Language and How it is Acquired
719	-	725	Appendix I: Summary of the Points of Agreement Reached in the Previous Nine Conferences on Cybernetics
727	-	728	Appendix II: References (1953)
729	-	734	Index

Über Autor(innen)

Pias, Claus
Claus Pias ist Professor für Mediengeschichte und Medientheorie an der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Zuvor lehrte er in Weimar, Bochum, Essen und Wien. Seine Forschungsschwerpunkte sind Technikgeschichte und Medientheorie.