Norbert Weiner’s book The Human Use of Human Beings: Cybernetics and Society ranges over
a wide field. The original
publication date is 1950, with a second edition in 1954, which is relevant
because a lot of science has occurred since that time. Nonetheless, his exploration between
the relationship between mind and computer contains much that is
thought-provoking and a great deal that seems downright prescient.
As we grow and learn (yes, there
is the tenuous connection to fitness!), it is useful to remember what he says
about who we are:
“It is the pattern maintained by
this homeostasis, which is the touchstone of our personal identity. Our tissues change as we live: the food we eat and the air we breathe
become flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, and the momentary elements of
our flesh and bone pass out of our body every day with our excreta. We are but whirlpools in a river of
ever-flowing water. We are not
stuff that abides, but patterns that perpetuate themselves.” (p. 96)
He has many other interesting
reflections on, among other things, fascism, game theory, teleportation, and
prosthetics. I would enjoy a
conversation with this person and would be fascinated to hear what he thinks of
where we are now.
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