W. Ross Ashby - Phenomena Quotes

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The invasion of psychology by cybernetics is making us realize that the ordinary concepts of psychology must be reformulated in the language of physics if a physical explanation of the ordinary psychological phenomena is to become possible. Some psychological concepts can be re-formulated more or less easily, but others are much more difﬁcult, and the investigator must have a deep insight if the physical reality behind the psychological phenomena is to be perceived

W. Ross Ashby

As shorthand, when the phenomena are suitably simple, words such as equilibrium and stability are of great value and convenience. Nevertheless, it should be always borne in mind that they are mere shorthand, and that the phenomena will not always have the simplicity that these words presuppose.

W. Ross Ashby