Metasystem Transitions

Description

From the Principia Cybernetica project:

"In "The Phenomenon of Science" (Columbia University Press, 1977) it is shown that the major steps in evolution, both biological, and cultural, are nothing else but metasystem transitions of a large scale. The concept of metasystem transition allows us to introduce a kind of objective quantitative measure of evolution and distinguish between evolution in the positive direction, progress, and what we consider an evolution in the negative direction, regress (cf. the direction of evolution)."

(http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MST.html)

Example

"For example, here is the sequence of metasystem transitions which led, starting from the appearance of organs of motion, to the appearance of human thought and human society:

• control of position = movement
• control of movement = irritability (simple reflex)
• control of irritability = (complex) reflex
• control of reflex = associating (conditional reflex)
• control of associating = human thinking
• control of human thinking = culture "

(http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MST.html)

Discussion

Towards a Metasystem Transition Theory

Principia Cybernetica:

"Metasystem Transition Theory (MSTT) is the name we have given our particular cybernetic philosophy. Its most salient concept is, of course, the Metasystem Transition (MST), the evolutionary process by which higher levels of complexity and control are generated. But it also includes our views on philosophical problems, and makes predictions about the possible future of mankind and life. Our goal is to create, on the basis of cybernetic concepts, an integrated philosophical system, or "world view", proposing answers to the most fundamental questions about the world, ourselves, and our ultimate values.

Our philosophy too is based on cybernetic principles.

• Our epistemology understands knowledge as a model, which is constructed by the subject or group, but undergoes selection by the environment.
• Our metaphysics asserts actions as ontological primitives.
• On the basis of this ontology, we define the most important concepts and organize them in a semantic network.
• At a higher level, we also lay out the fundamental principles of cybernetics in terms of these underlying concepts.

One of the central concepts is that of evolution in the most general sense, which is produced by the mechanism of variation and selection. Another is control, which we define in a special cybernetic sense, and assert as the basic mode of organization in complex systems. This brings us to the central concept for MSTT, that of the metasystem transition, or the process by which control emerges in evolutionary systems.

On this basis we then reconstruct the complete history of evolution, from the Big Bang to the present, as a sequence of MST's. An extrapolation of this sequence provides us with a first glimpse of what the future might bring. Finally, the possible dangers and opportunities of our evolutionary future direct our attention to the need for formulating an ethics, based on evolutionary and systemic principles, that could guide our actions.

• The basic tenets of MSTT were formulated by Turchin and Joslyn in "The Cybernetic Manifesto".

(http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MSTT.html)

More information

• "The Quantum of Evolution", a collection of papers on the topic of metasystem transitions, published as a special issue of "World Futures".

• The basic tenets of MSTT were formulated by Turchin and Joslyn in "The Cybernetic Manifesto".