Raymond Ruyer | Cybernetics and the Origin of Information September 20, 2025 (CANGUILHEM INTERLUDE, pt. 2)
Sep 20, 2025
In a fascinating discussion, the hosts delve into machine analogies and how anatomical terms are influenced by devices. They explore Canguilhem's warning about the dangers of oversimplifying biological systems with rigid mathematical models. The conversation also covers the evolution of nerve models, from passive cables to dynamic electrochemical circuits, emphasizing the need for new theories to build on past discoveries. The session wraps up with insights into organismal plasticity and the complexities of biological regulation.
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Analogy vs. Identity
- Analogies between machines and organs can mislead if treated as identities rather than resemblances.
- Conguilhem warns that superficial resemblance doesn't tell which properties transfer between domains.
Simulation Reveals Mechanisms
- Simulating an effect isn't enough; reproducing the means can reveal causal mechanisms.
- Feedback (e.g., the Watt governor) models homeostasis but may oversimplify nervous regulation.
Limits Of Mathematical Transfer
- Biological models risk being reified because biology lacks the unifying mathematics physics enjoys.
- Models in biology often map functions concretely without proving shared general laws.
