Notes for The Principia Cybernetica Project[dagger]
I. Outline of the Project.
The idea looks good. At least it looks good in theory.
In practice it is hard to access the site and get information.
At least the "Phenomen of Science" is a well-organised piece of
information, otherwise it would be hard to gather initial
understanding. Now I've read the book and try to get up-to-date
state of the project, but it is difficult.
IV.2. A Constructivist, "Metacognitive" Epistemology
Very true. I even think that real meaning of this chapter is
deeper than appears at first.
"Model" is a fundamental entity not only for "knowledge". Models
are used by any living creature. I can illustrate it by states
of evolution from Turchin "Phenomena of science":
- "Chemical era": single cell living creatures use
"chemical models"
- "Cybernetic era": multi-cell creatures use
"electo-chemical models" (neurons) in
the following order:
"embedded models" - instincts
"drilled models" - reflexes
- "Mind era": humans started to use "reflective
models" (self-awareness) and abstract
models.
The real target should be a Metamodel. Actually philosophy is
supposed to be a "scientific metamodel". I think it is the right
word for the whole project: METAMODEL.
IV.3. An Evolutionary Ethics
"Although the death of organisms is necessary for biological
evolution,..." - strictly talking it is not true. A proof for
this statement is based on observations, however we do not have
other proof that it shall be mandatory.
Let's stop for now.
Regards
Alex
Author: Francis Heylighen
Date: May 24, 2000REPLY: Of course, the project is still alive!
I don't see why you have doubts about the project still being alive, as the recent changes testifies to our on-going activities. About the website being difficult to access from your location (Australia, I guess), perhaps you should try the mirror site at 
http://pcp.lanl.gov (see menubar). About it being hard to get an overview: that is difficult to avoid when presenting so much information about so many disparate, and yet connected topics. It is true that reading a book, such as "The Phenomenon of Science", is an easier way to get an overview of the theory for those who want to go in depth. For those who rather want to get a general idea of what is going on, shorter overviews are available, e.g. a summary of the whole project or a "FAQ" about our philosophical world view.
I agree that "metamodel" would be a good description of the whole project.
I also agree that "Although the death of organisms is necessary for biological evolution,...", a quote from our 1990 "Cybernetic Manifesto", is strictly talking not true. I have elaborated this point in The Evolutionary Causes of Aging and Death
