Cybernetics and the Origin of Information

One of the lost classics of French philosophy, Cybernetics and the Origin of Information has never before been published in English. Raymond Ruyerwho was a major influence on Simondon and Deleuze, among othersoriginally wrote this book, one of the first critiques of Norbert Wieners cybernetics program, in 1954. At once critical and analytical, it is a deep exploration of information theory, cybernetics, and the philosophical assumptions and implications of both. Among the themes covered in the book are the main types of information machines, informations relationship to behavior and communication, and the nature of entropy and time in cybernetics. This translation contributes to understanding the rich history of cybernetics and the philosophy of information. A true hidden gem in the history of philosophical thought, this text will help readers understand foundational criticisms of ideas that have led to artificial intelligence.