Cybernetics and the Autonomy Paradox

This chapter explores the tension between theory and practicality in cybernetics, discussing the balance between maintaining life and the potential stagnation of autonomy. It critiques the simplifications of behaviorism and the implications of studying autonomy in humans and non-human beings such as frogs. The conversation also evaluates how theoretical concepts evolve through technological advancements and the material realities that underpin seemingly abstract notions of information.