Elements of a cybernetic epistemology: complex anticipatory systems

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main differences in the cybernetic structures necessary for elementary anticipation, understood as anticipation of the repetition of one known pattern, and complex anticipation, understood as anticipation of the repetition of known sequences of patterns. Design/methodology/approach -A functional cybernetic approach is used to develop the necessary additions to an elementary anticipatory system, so that it can provide standards for anticipated sequences containing seven single patterns or "chunks". Findings -A subsystem for the anticipation of sequences is developed that is able to: identify the beginning of known sequences; search for different known sequences containing that beginning; and decide to use later patterns of such a sequence as standards for anticipated patterns. Deciding to actually use such patterns for anticipation requires an additional subsystem to switch between the feedback pattern recognition and the feedforward anticipation mode.Practical implications -The paper shows how complex anticipation can be developed from elementary forms by adding highly parallel structures that apply the same underlying principles; and it emphasizes epistemological demands for the structure and the data organization that have to be fulfilled, so that anticipation of the repetition of sequences becomes possible. Originality/value -The paper illustrates the complexity of the anticipation of sequences and it provides the base to analyze more complex forms of specifically human thinking.

Elements of a cybernetic epistemology: elementary anticipatory systems

“…We will show in forthcoming work how this elementary anticipation forms the base of more complex anticipation processes (Nechansky, 2013) and, as we suppose, of specifically human forms of thinking, too.…”

“…But we think this elementary form is the base for all more complex anticipating process. We will consider these in forthcoming work (Nechansky, 2013). Here we turn to the structural necessities for this simple form of anticipation.…”

“…In forthcoming work (Nechansky, 2013) we will investigate how more complex forms of anticipation (of more patterns, sequences, etc.) can build on the structures we analyze below.…”

From Autocatalysis to Market Relations: A Systems Approach to the Material Flows Needed by Living Systems

“…And, it can be immediately detailed by filling the boxes for ‘controller structures’ with the results of our investigations on the evolution of controllers, to obtain to specific structures necessary for adaptive systems, or pattern recognition systems, or anticipatory systems, etc. (refer to Nechansky, , , , and additional references there). So the whole approach is fully compatible with all our other investigations on living systems and the different evolutionary stages of their controller structures.…”

“…Stages of the development of controllers are as follows: Basic controller structures enable the detection of resources and, if resources are missing, the initiation of movement (Figure c). Advanced controller structures enable detection of resources and actions on inputs, preparing them for ingestion and production. The further evolution of the controller structures enables increased cognitive and behavioural abilities along the line adaptation, pattern recognition, sequence learning, anticipation, and simulation. We have investigated the basic requirements of this development in detail elsewhere (Nechansky, , , ), so we do not discuss that here. Finally, complex controller structures with sufficient cognitive abilities enable the detection of useful material and acting on it to make external products or tools, which can be used later on (Figure d). Of course, this development has reached its highest stage with humans. …”