I have been active on the Egoism and Morality Discussion List (c/o
LISTSERV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU) and recently raised the topic of PCT.
One of the heavy-hitters there, Svein Olav Nyberg, just posted the
following in reply to one of my comments, and I thought it might tickle
a few readers here. (For context, Mr. Nyberg makes a prominent
rejection of all morality, and is tired of being barraged by insistances
that he must accept various moral absolutes.)
Tracy Harms
---BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE--------------------------------------------
Subject:
Re: perceptual control theory
Date:
Wed, 18 Mar 1998 17:56:49 +0000
From:
"Svein Olav G. Nyberg" <solan@MATHS.ED.AC.UK>
Reply-To:
Egoism and Morality Discussion List
<EGOISM@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
To:
EGOISM@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
References:
1 , 2
The other thing which the I/O approach misses is that actions of
the system ("output") alters its experience ("input"). The role
of feedback is crucial. It must be explicitly addressed or organic
systems cannot be reasonably understood.
I tested this on myself.
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Waaaah!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Waaaah!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Waaaah!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Huh?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Wait a minute!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "What's this all about?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "It doesn't make sense!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "What is it supposed to mean?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Where is it supposed to come from?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Now let us see .."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "I have a question for you."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Hello?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "I have a question for you."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "No .."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Anybody home?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Hellooooo!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Geez what a monotonous guy!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Yes, you said that."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "I think I've heard you now."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Yes, yes. Then over to the questions, eh?"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Obviously not .."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "I don't think I'll bother listening
anymore."
Input: "Morality!" Output: "As if that ever got across!"
Input: "Morality!" Output: "Byeeee!"
Input: "Morality!"
Input: "Morality!"
Input: "Morality!"
.
.
.
My conclusive study affirms the thesis that I cannot be treated as
simple input/output box.
Svein Olav Nyberg
The view expressed is not the view of the Institute of Teutology,
Dept. of Odin, University of Midgard. One reason being that there
is no University of Midgard.