been looking at Norbert Weiner

*Cybernetics* is a
transdisciplinary<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transdisciplinarity>
[1] 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics#cite_note-transdisciplinary-1>approach
for exploring regulatory
systems <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems>, their
structures<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure>,
constraints, and possibilities. Cybernetics is relevant to the study of
systems, such as mechanical, physical, biological, cognitive, and social
systems <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_systems>. Cybernetics is
applicable when a system being analyzed is involved in a closed signaling
loop; that is, where action by the system generates some change in its
environment and that change is reflected in that system in some manner
(feedback) that triggers a system change. Originally referred to as a
"circular causal" relationship. Some say this is necessary to a cybernetic
perspective.[*citation
needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>
*] System Dynamics <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Dynamics>, a
related field, originated with applications of electrical engineering
control theory to other kinds of simulation models (especially business
systems) by Jay Forrester <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Forrester> at
MIT <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIT> in the 1950s.

Cybernetics was defined in the mid 20th century, by Norbert
Wiener<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbert_Wiener>as "the scientific
study of control and communication in the animal and the
machine."[2] 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics#cite_note-W1948-2>Cybernetics
from the Greek meaning to "steer" or "navigate." Contemporary
cybernetics began as an interdisciplinary study connecting the fields of
control systems, electrical network
theory<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_theory>,
mechanical engineering <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering>,
logic modeling <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_modeling>, evolutionary
biology <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_biology>,
neuroscience<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroscience>,
anthropology <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropology>, and
psychology<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology>in the 1940s, often
attributed to the Macy
Conferences <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macy_Conferences>. During the
second half of the 20th century cybernetics evolved in ways that
distinguish first-order cybernetics (about observed systems) from
second-order cybernetics (about observing
systems).[3]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics#cite_note-HvF1981-3>


On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM, William Conger <[email protected]>wrote:

> OK, good.  I like it.
> wc
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: saul ostrow <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Tue, January 15, 2013 10:01:55 AM
> Subject: Re: Art is money
>
> The qualities are those that come first to be introduced into the process
> and then come to be be subscribed to or reproduced.  As for circular - not
> so much circular as a feedback loop and therefore cybernetic - this is the
> reason the subject/object is not fixed or fixable but emergent - as such
> art exists in time
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 10:14 AM, William Conger <[email protected]
> >wrote:
>
> > Are the qualities of art assigned to things themselves or to the network
> > system
> > that circumscribes those qualities?  What is a quality in itself or can
> it
> > only
> > be recognized in relation to a thing?  What is a history?  Why isn't
> > history
> > itself unstable and merely another mode of qualities, like art?
> >
> > I like Saul's statement and I think it's a good explanation of the fact
> > that art
> > is a societal construct, and not simply objects with inherent features,
> > but I'm
> > not sure his argument is not circular.
> >
> > WC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: saulostrow <[email protected]>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Sent: Tue, January 15, 2013 8:55:36 AM
> > Subject: Re: Art is money
> >
> > The "art" I have in mind encompasses an activity that results in a
> variety
> > of "qualities" that are best represented by  a collection of works
> > (things). The nature of this activity is circumscribed by a history,
> which
> > then informs in part the intentions of the agent who performs the act
> that
> > will potentially result in generating a variety of qualities (both
> > previously associated with and on occasion previously not associated
> > with)the  collection of works (things) that are indexed to the
> > aforementioned history. I say potentially because there are external
> > conditions
> > that effect the process that may not be determined. These contingencies
> are
> > a result of the fact that both the activities, qualities and the
> collection
> > of works is under constant revision and therefore may be considered
> > emergent as both a subject and a form.  Those things not included in that
> > collection of objects have yet to be circumscribed by that the
> > aforementioned history  are not called art - and therefore are not
> > those things
> > that come to mind when  art is signified. Inversely, all aspects of this
> > process may not please all those who make reference to it (art) - but in
> > those cases they are merely stipulating that sub-category which they wish
> > to privilege -  Any discussion concerning these sub-categories become a
> > discussion of standards, criteria and  value.  At this point we are no
> > longer referencing art but merely using certain works as ideological  or
> > philosophical examples of what it is that might pleases us in comparison
> to
> > another example - to discuss taste, a.e., or market value is not the same
> > thing as discussing art.  In closing to discuss art is to discuss a
> systems
> > network and not a thing.
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > S a u l   O s t r o w
> >
> > *Critical  Voices*
> > 21STREETPROJECTS
> > La    Table  Ronde
> > 162 West 21 Street
> > NYC,    NY   10011
> >
> > [email protected]
> > www.21stprojects.org
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> S a u l   O s t r o w
>
> *Critical  Voices*
> 21STREETPROJECTS
> La    Table   Ronde
> 162 West 21 Street
> NYC,    NY   10011
>
> [email protected]
> www.21stprojects.org
>
>


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