Expandable Table of Contents

Welcome to the Principia Cybernetica Web

• Introduction to Principia Cybernetica
  • The Need for Principia Cybernetica
    • Cybernetics and the Integration of Knowledge
    • Principia Cybernetica and Principia Mathematica
    • Principia Cybernetica as a Universal Knowledge System for Cybernetics and Systems Science
    • Specific Goals for Principia Cybernetica
  • Philosophy, Introduction
    • Philosophy as Linguistic Representation
    • Epistemology, introduction
      • Reflection-correspondence theory
    • Metaphysics, introduction
      • Process Metaphysics
      • Ontology, introduction
    • Ethics, introduction
    • What is a world view?
  • Eternal Philosophical Questions
    • What is the meaning of life?
  • Context of Principia Cybernetica
  • History of the Principia Cybernetica Project
    • First public introduction of the Principia Cybernetica Project
    • ***
    • Progress Report: 5 years of PCP
    • The Cybernetic Manifesto
    • Reactions, discussions, comments
      • Criticisms of Principia Cybernetica
      • Principia Cybernetica Web and the "Best of the Web" awards
      • Principia Cybernetica in "Wired" magazine
      • References to Principia Cybernetica in different servers
    • PCP-news digest
  • Overview of Principia Cybernetica
• Metasystem Transition Theory
  • Methodology for the Development of MSTT
    • Form and Content
    • On Semantic Analysis and Consensus Building
    • Progressive formalization
    • Multiple Beginnings, Meta-Foundationalism
      • Multiple axiomatization sets, a metaphor for metafoundationalism
      • Physical Constructivism
    • Meaning Goes First [empty]
    • Distinction foundations: evolution of meaning [empty]
  • Epistemology
    • Epistemology, introduction
      • Reflection-correspondence theory
    • Knowledge
      • Model
        • Homomorphism
      • Prediction
      • Truth
        • Statement of infiniteness
        • The law of the excluded middle
        • Predicate
        • Proof
          • Verification
          • Refutation [empty]
      • Subject of knowledge: "I"
      • Objectivity
      • Theories versus facts
      • Intuition
        • Doubt
    • Epistemological Constructivism
    • Evolutionary Epistemology
      • Vicarious Selectors
      • Knowledge Selection Criteria
        • Distinctiveness
        • Invariance
        • Utility
        • Conformity
        • Collective Utility
        • Authority
        • Coherence
    • Meta-Cognitive Modelling
      • The Principle of Incomplete Knowledge
      • Principles of Reasoning with Uncertainty
      • Measures of Uncertainty
        • Probability
        • Plausibility [empty]
        • Fuzzy logic and sets [empty]
    • Language
      • Message
      • Information [empty]
      • Syntax
        • Symbol
        • Sentence
        • Parsing
      • Semantics
        • Meaning
          • Command
          • Statement
          • Instrumental meaning
          • Concept
        • Abstraction
        • Historic record
      • Pragmatics
      • Human language
        • Neuronal vs. logical concepts
        • Formalization
          • Formality
          • Measuring formality through word frequencies
        • Four types of linguistic activities
      • Universal Semantic Language
    • Semiotics
      • Semiotic Terms
  • Metaphysics
    • Metaphysics, introduction
      • Process Metaphysics
      • Ontology, introduction
    • The meaning of metaphysics
    • From Kant to Schopenhauer
    • Knowledge and will
    • Action
      • Agent
      • Event
      • Process
      • Emergence
      • Domain
    • Distinction
    • Basic Concepts of Science
      • State of the world
      • Space
      • Time
      • Historic record
      • Objectification
      • Causality
      • Object
      • Process
      • Number
      • Infinity
      • Continuous vs. discrete
      • Observation
      • Experiment [empty]
      • System
        • Order [empty]
        • Hierarchy [empty]
        • Procedure [empty]
        • Machine [empty]
    • Determinism vs. Freedom
    • God
      • Agnosticism
      • Atheism
      • Pantheism
      • Arguments for and against the Existence of God
  • Systems Concepts
    • System
      • Order [empty]
      • Hierarchy [empty]
      • Procedure [empty]
      • Machine [empty]
    • Foundational Concepts
    • Variety
    • What is complexity?
    • Closures
  • Principles of Systems and Cybernetics
    • Occam's Razor
    • The Identity of the Indistinguishables
    • The Principle of Causality
    • Downward Causation
    • Blind Variation and Selective Retention
      • The Principle of Selective Retention
      • The Principle of Asymmetric Transitions
        • Asymmetric Transitions: an illustration
        • Definition of Fitness in terms of transition probabilities
      • The Principle of Blind Variation
    • The Principle of Autocatalytic Growth
    • The Principle of Selective Variety
    • The Principle of Recursive Systems Construction
    • The Law of Requisite Variety
    • Law of Requisite Constraint
    • The Law of Requisite Knowledge
    • Law of Requisite Hierarchy
    • The Principle of Incomplete Knowledge
    • Principles of Reasoning with Uncertainty
    • The Red Queen Principle
    • The generalized "Peter Principle"
  • Evolutionary Theory
    • The Physics of Evolution
    • The trial-and-error method
      • Variation
      • Selection
      • Fitness
        • Definition of Fitness in terms of transition probabilities
      • Blind Variation and Selective Retention
        • The Principle of Selective Retention
        • The Principle of Asymmetric Transitions
          • Asymmetric Transitions: an illustration
          • Definition of Fitness in terms of transition probabilities
        • The Principle of Blind Variation
      • The Principle of Selective Variety
    • Replication
    • Self-organization
      • Entropy and the Laws of Thermodynamics
      • Attractors
      • Deterministic Chaos
      • Kauffman's NK Boolean networks
    • Direction and Speed of Evolution
      • The Direction of Evolution
      • The Growth of Complexity
        • The Growth of Structural Complexity
        • The Growth of Functional Complexity
        • The Principle of Recursive Systems Construction
      • Punctuated Equilibrium
      • The Principle of Autocatalytic Growth
      • The Red Queen Principle
      • The generalized "Peter Principle"
    • Mathematical Modeling of Evolution
      • Models of molecular-genetic systems origin
        • Quasispecies
          • Estimation of the evolution rate
          • Neutral evolution game
          • Spin-glass model of evolution
        • Hypercycles
        • Sysers
          • Adaptive syser
      • General Models of Evolution
        • Mathematical Methods of Population Genetics
        • Kauffman's NK Boolean networks
      • Artificial Life Evolutionary Models
      • Applied Evolutionary Modeling
        • Genetic Algorithms
    • Evolutionary Systems
  • Cybernetics
    • Feedback
    • Homeostasis
    • Control
      • Properties of a Control System
      • Special Cases of Control
        • The Harmonic Oscillator as a Control System
        • Blind control
        • Metalanguage
      • Examples and Counterexamples of Control Systems (empty)
      • Other Definitions of Control
        • Powers' Definition of Control
        • Control in Terms of Statements and Commands
      • Problem-solving
      • Communication [empty]
      • Goal [empty]
      • Regulation [empty]
      • Conflict [empty]
      • Control hierarchy [empty]
      • Semantic Control
        • Semiotic Terms
  • The Metasystem Transition
    • MST as the quantum of evolution [empty]
    • Control hierarchy [empty]
    • Freedom and Constraint in a Metasystem Transition
    • Metalanguage
    • Integration and differentiation
    • Branching Growth of the Penultimate Level
    • Types of Metasystem Transitions
      • The scope of MST [empty]
    • Ultra-Metasystems [empty]
    • Metasystem Transitions in Biology
      • Biological examples of MSTs
      • Symbiosis as a Metasystem Transition
      • Evolutionary stability of cooperation
  • The History of Evolution
    • Physical Evolution [empty]
      • The origin of the Universe
      • The Creation of Stars and Galaxies
      • The Origin of Atoms and Elements
      • The Formation of Planets
      • Dissipative Structures
    • Biological Evolution
      • The Origins of Life
      • Eukaryotes: the origin of complex cells
      • Multicellular organisms
      • Sexuality as a Metasystem Transition
      • Metasystem Transitions in Biology
        • Biological examples of MSTs
        • Symbiosis as a Metasystem Transition
        • Evolutionary stability of cooperation
    • Cognitive Evolution (stages)
      • Irritability [empty]
      • Reflex [empty]
      • Learning [empty]
      • Human thinking
        • Play [empty]
        • Making tools [empty]
        • Imagination [empty]
        • Planning [empty]
        • The feeling of funny [empty]
        • The feeling of beautiful [empty]
        • Highest values [empty]
        • Creation of language [empty]
        • Self-knowledge [empty]
    • Social Evolution
      • Insect Societies
      • Human society
        • Sociobiology [empty]
        • Production system [empty]
          • Barter [empty]
          • Money [empty]
          • Market [empty]
          • Primitive production system [empty]
          • Slavery [empty]
          • Capitalism [empty]
          • Socialism [empty]
        • Political system [empty]
          • Primitive tribe [empty]
          • Empire [empty]
          • Nation state [empty]
          • Aristocratic rule [empty]
          • Oligarchy [empty]
          • Democracy [empty]
          • Separation of powers [empty]
            • Legislative power [empty]
            • Executive power [empty]
            • Juditiary [empty]
        • Spiritual system [empty]
          • Primitive culture [empty]
          • Religion [empty]
          • Scientific worldview [empty]
          • Individualism vs. collectivism [empty]
          • Institutionalization of values [empty]
      • Memetics
        • Structure of memes
        • Memetic Selection Criteria
        • Competition between Memes and Genes
        • Memes: Introduction
        • Memetic Lexicon
        • Memes on the Net
        • Links on Evolutionary Theory and Memetics
      • Evolution of Cooperation
        • Zero sum games
        • Genetic Scenarios for Evolving Cooperation
        • Memetic Scenarios for Evolving Cooperation
      • Social Integration [empty]
      • Culture [empty]
      • Human super-being [empty]
      • Science in evolution [empty]
  • The Future of Humanity
    • Popular Visions of the Future
    • Contemporary Problems
      • Technological acceleration
      • Change and Information Overload: negative effects
      • Post-Modern Fragmentation
      • The Breakdown of Values
    • Societal Progress
    • The Socio-technological Singularity
    • Memetic Evolution
    • Cybernetic Immortality
    • Cosmic role of humankind [empty]
    • The Social Superorganism and its Global Brain
      • Correspondence between Organism and Society
      • Super- and/or Meta-being(s)
      • From World-Wide Web to Super-Brain
      • Direct Interfaces into the Global Brain
      • The Global Brain Group
        • Subscription to the Global Brain mailing list
      • Basic References on the Global Brain / Superorganism
    • Links on Future Development
  • Ethics
    • Values
      • Knowledge and will
      • Science and human values
      • The Breakdown of Values
    • Evolutionary Values
      • Fitness
        • Definition of Fitness in terms of transition probabilities
      • Survival
      • Growth [empty]
      • Happiness
      • Self-Actualization
    • Will for immortality
      • Metaphysical immortality
      • Creative immortality
      • Biological immortality
      • Cybernetic Immortality
      • The Evolutionary Causes of Aging and Death
    • Human Rights
      • Human Freedom [empty]
    • Conflicts between levels
      • The problem of suboptimization
        • The Prisoners' Dilemma
      • Selfishness
      • Integration and freedom
      • Evolution of Cooperation
        • Zero sum games
        • Genetic Scenarios for Evolving Cooperation
        • Memetic Scenarios for Evolving Cooperation
      • Evolutionary origin of ethical systems
  • Foundation of Mathematics
• Project Organization
  • Principia Cybernetica Masthead
  • Editorial Board
  • Management of Principia Cybernetica
  • Collaborative Knowledge Development
    • Gathering a variety of contributions
    • Computer-Supported Cooperative Work
    • Hypertext web as a semantic network
      • Links and Link Types
    • Semantic Analysis
    • Progressive formalization
    • Consensus Building
      • collaborative granularity [empty]
    • PCP Research on Intelligent Webs
      • Learning Webs
        • The Adaptive Hypertext Experiment
        • Finding words through spreading activation
        • Cluster Analysis of Word Associations
        • Adaptive hypertext network
      • Web Connectivity Analysis
      • Collaborative Filtering
      • Bootstrapping Methods for Knowledge Structuring
  • Contributing to the Principia Cybernetica Project
    • Submitting Nodes for Inclusion in Principia Cybernetica Web
    • Doing PhD or PostDoc Research with Principia Cybernetica
    • Collaborators Needed
    • Tasks with which you can help
    • List of contributors
      • Johan Bollen
        • Biographical Sketch - J. Bollen
      • In Memoriam Donald T. Campbell
      • About Jean-Marc Dewaele
      • About Francis Heylighen
        • F. Heylighen: Biographical Sketch
        • ***
        • ***
        • About "Representation and Change"
          • Ordering "Representation and Change"
          • "Representation and Change": extended summary
      • About Cliff Joslyn
      • About Vladimir Red'ko
      • ***
      • About Valentin Turchin
        • BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON VALENTIN TURCHIN
      • About Stuart Umpleby
  • Principia Cybernetica Mailing Lists
    • Subscription to PCP-news
    • Subscription to PRNCYB-L
    • PRNCYB-L Subscribers
    • PRNCYB-L usage instructions
  • Principia Cybernetica News
    • Sample Issue of 2-monthly PCP-news
    • PCP-news digest
  • Tree of FTP directories
  • Principia Cybernetica Meetings
    • Symposium : The Evolution of Complexity
    • Symposium: Theories and Metaphors of Cyberspace
    • Symposium on Memetics
      • ***
  • Bibliography on Principia Cybernetica
    • Special Issue on "The Quantum of Evolution"
  • Reactions, discussions, comments
    • Criticisms of Principia Cybernetica
    • Principia Cybernetica Web and the "Best of the Web" awards
    • Principia Cybernetica in "Wired" magazine
    • References to Principia Cybernetica in different servers
• PCP Research on Intelligent Webs
  • Learning Webs
    • The Adaptive Hypertext Experiment
    • Finding words through spreading activation
    • Cluster Analysis of Word Associations
    • Adaptive hypertext network
  • Web Connectivity Analysis
  • Collaborative Filtering
  • Bootstrapping Methods for Knowledge Structuring
• Navigation in PCP Web
  • Web Organization
    • Structure of Principia Cybernetica Web
    • How to use Principia Cybernetica Web
      • Guidelines for making annotations
    • Node Organization
    • Hypertext web as a semantic network
      • Links and Link Types
    • Principia Cybernetica Copyright Statement
  • Table of Contents
  • Search
    • Common Search Errors
  • Alphabetical Index
  • Recent Changes/Additions
    • User Annotations
    • Changes-Additions 1993-94
    • Changes-Additions 1994-95
    • Changes-Additions 1995-96
    • Changes-Additions 1996-97
    • Changes-Additions 1997-98
  • Node usage statistics
  • The Free University of Brussels
    • Things to see in Brussels
    • Belgium: Overview
• Reference material
  • Principia Cybernetica Electronic Library
    • Ashby's book "Introduction to Cybernetics"
    • "The Macroscope", a book on the systems approach
    • "The Phenomenon of Science", a book on MSTT
    • About "Representation and Change"
      • Ordering "Representation and Change"
      • "Representation and Change": extended summary
    • Special Issue on "The Quantum of Evolution"
    • ***
  • Web Dictionary of Cybernetics and Systems Theory
  • Cybernetics and Systems Theory
    • What are Cybernetics and Systems Science?
      • Basic Concepts of the Systems Approach
      • What is Systems Theory?
      • Analytic vs. Systemic Approaches
      • The Nature of Cybernetic Systems
      • History of Cybernetics and Systems Science
      • Cybernetics and Systems Thinkers
      • Cybernetics and Systems Science in Academics
      • Cybernetics and Systems Science and Academic Work
      • Existing Cybernetic Foundations
      • Cybernetic Technology
        • Cyberspace
        • Cybernetic Theory and Cybernetic Practice
      • Relation to other disciplines
        • Complex Adaptive Systems
        • Self-organization and complexity in the natural sciences
    • Basic Books on Cybernetics and Systems Science
    • Basic Papers on Cybernetics and Systems Science
    • Classic Publications on Complex, Evolving Systems
    • Cybernetics and Systems Science Compendia
    • Cybernetics and Systems Journals
    • Cybernetics and Systems Societies
      • IAC - International Association for Cybernetics
    • Mailing Lists and Newsgroups on Cybernetics and Systems
    • Links on Cybernetics and Systems
  • Sites Related to Principia Cybernetica
    • Links on Cybernetics and Systems
    • Links on Complexity, Self-organization and Artificial Life
    • Links on Evolutionary Theory and Memetics
    • Links on Future Development
    • Links on Cognitive Science and AI
    • Links on Computer Interfaces and the Web
    • Links on Philosophy
    • Links on Indexes and Encyclopedias