Category Archives: Systems Theory

Survey of Definition and Determination • 4

Posted on May 3, 2025 by Jon Awbrey

In the early 1990s, “in the middle of life’s journey” as the saying goes, I returned to grad school in a systems engineering program with the idea of taking a more systems-theoretic approach to my development of Peircean themes, from … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Comprehension, Constraint, Definition, Determination, Extension, Form, Indication, Information, Information = Comprehension × Extension, Inquiry Driven Systems, Logic, Mathematics, Scientific Method, Semiotics, Sign Relations, Structure, Systems Theory, Visualization | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Theory and Therapy of Representations • 5

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Jon Awbrey

Re: R.J. Lipton and K.W. Regan • Legal Complexity I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Adaptive Systems, C.S. Peirce, Cybernetics, Democracy, Economics, Education, Expectation, Governance, Information, Inquiry, Intention, Justice, Law, Logic, Max Weber, Observation, Plato, Pragmata, Representation, Science, Semiotics, Society, Statistics, Systems Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Theory and Therapy of Representations • 4

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Jon Awbrey

Re: Theory and Therapy of Representations • 3 Re: Ontolog Forum • Paola Di Maio JA: What are the forces distorting our representations of what’s observed, what’s expected, and what’s intended? PDM: The short answer is — the force behind all … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Adaptive Systems, C.S. Peirce, Cybernetics, Democracy, Economics, Education, Expectation, Governance, Information, Inquiry, Intention, Justice, Law, Logic, Max Weber, Observation, Plato, Pragmata, Representation, Science, Semiotics, Society, Statistics, Systems Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Theory and Therapy of Representations • 3

Posted on February 23, 2025 by Jon Awbrey

Representation is a concept we find at the intersection of cybernetics, epistemology, logic, mathematics, psychology, and sociology.  In my studies it led me from math to psych and back again, with sidelong glances at the history of democratic governance.  Its … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Adaptive Systems, C.S. Peirce, Cybernetics, Democracy, Economics, Education, Expectation, Governance, Information, Inquiry, Intention, Justice, Law, Logic, Max Weber, Observation, Plato, Pragmata, Representation, Science, Semiotics, Society, Statistics, Systems Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Theory and Therapy of Representations • 2

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Jon Awbrey

December 19, 2011 In a complex society, people making decisions and taking actions at places remote from you have the power to affect your life in significant ways.  Those people govern your life, they are your government, no matter what … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Adaptive Systems, C.S. Peirce, Cybernetics, Democracy, Economics, Education, Expectation, Governance, Information, Inquiry, Intention, Justice, Law, Logic, Max Weber, Observation, Plato, Pragmata, Representation, Science, Semiotics, Society, Statistics, Systems Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Theory and Therapy of Representations • 1

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Jon Awbrey

Again, in a ship, if a man were at liberty to do what he chose, but were devoid of mind and excellence in navigation (αρετης κυβερνητικης), do you perceive what must happen to him and his fellow sailors? Plato • … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Adaptive Systems, C.S. Peirce, Cybernetics, Democracy, Economics, Education, Expectation, Governance, Information, Inquiry, Intention, Justice, Law, Logic, Max Weber, Observation, Plato, Pragmata, Representation, Science, Semiotics, Society, Statistics, Systems Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Relations & Their Relatives • Discussion 25

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Jon Awbrey

Re: Daniel Everett • Polyunsaturated Predicates Re: Relations & Their Relatives • Discussion 24 Dear Daniel, I’ve been meaning to get back to this as it keeps coming up and it’s kind of important but it took me a while … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Category Theory, Control, Cybernetics, Dyadic Relations, Information, Inquiry, Logic, Logic of Relatives, Mathematics, Relation Theory, Rheme, Semiosis, Semiotics, Sign Relations, Systems Theory, Triadic Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Relations & Their Relatives • Discussion 24

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Jon Awbrey

Re: Daniel Everett • Polyunsaturated Predicates DE: Among the several ideas Peirce and Frege came up with was the idea of a predicate before and after it is linked to its arguments.  Frege called the unlinked predicate unsaturated.  But Peirce … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Category Theory, Control, Cybernetics, Dyadic Relations, Information, Inquiry, Logic, Logic of Relatives, Mathematics, Relation Theory, Rheme, Semiosis, Semiotics, Sign Relations, Systems Theory, Triadic Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Constraints and Indications • 2

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Jon Awbrey

Re: Constraints and Indications • 1 Re: Ontolog Forum • Joseph Simpson Coping with collaboration, communication, context, integration, interoperability, perspective, purpose, and the reality of the information dimension demands a transition from conceptual environments bounded by dyadic relations to those … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptive Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Ashby, C.S. Peirce, Constraint, Control, Cybernetics, Determination, Error-Controlled Regulation, Feedback, Indication, Indicator Functions, Information, Inquiry, Inquiry Driven Systems, Intelligent Systems, Intentionality, Learning Theory, Semiotic Information, Semiotics, Systems Theory, Uncertainty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Constraints and Indications • 1

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Jon Awbrey

Re: Peirce List • Kaina Stoicheia and the Symbol Grounding Problem Re: Jerry Chandler • Christophe Menant • Jon Awbrey • Christophe Menant The system‑theoretic concept of constraint is one that unifies a manifold of other notions — definition, determination, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptive Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Ashby, C.S. Peirce, Constraint, Control, Cybernetics, Determination, Error-Controlled Regulation, Feedback, Indication, Indicator Functions, Information, Inquiry, Inquiry Driven Systems, Intelligent Systems, Intentionality, Learning Theory, Semiotic Information, Semiotics, Systems Theory, Uncertainty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment