[From Rick Marken (940222.2200)]
Martin Taylor (940222 17:00) --
Fundamentally, the self-organization model is a control system with no
reference input. It is a negative feedback system that stabilizes some
structural feature of the environment. In physical terms, it depends on
nonlinearities in the response of the environment to some form of far
from equilibrium energy flow.
Thanks for making my move away from PCT to self-organization theory
so easy by explaining that a self-organization model is a control system
with no reference input. Well, then a self-organizing system must control
a perceptual variable relative to a fixed reference level (zero).
I don't understand why this "depends on non-linearities in the response
of the environment to some form of far from equilibrium energy flow" but
it sure sounds impressive so I can hardly wait to find out what it means.
Does it mean that this control system doesn't work unless there are
these non-linearities? If so, I wonder why? If a self-organizing system
is a control system then, from what I recall when I was captive of that
stubborn, shallow PCT cult, such systems work with or without
non-linearities in the various functions. I'm sure glad I got out of there
on time so that I could learn about this new property of control
systems (with no reference inputs). Could you elaborate a bit on this.
Boy am I excited about this self-organization stuff. Sounds even better
than PCT and it's probably even easier (don't have to worry about all
those pesky reference inputs -- although I am a tad conconcerned
about those non-linearities). One quick question -- just what is it
that we're trying to explain? Is self-organization control? If not,
what is it? and why is it explained by a control system?
It is relevant to understanding how groups of them interact, such
as in the development of languages, social conventions, organizational
and governmental structures, and the like.
Boy, am I gonna like being a self-organization theorist. Could you
show me how a control system with no reference input helps me
understand one of the simpler things on that list -- like the development
of organizational structures, for instance. That Powers fella has this
program that produced all these different organizational structures
using regular old PCT -- but I knew he didn't really understand how
those structures occurred, not in any deep sense anyway. Now I know
what he was missing -- control systems with no reference input AKA
self-organizing systems.
Me:
Could you give a description of how a self-organizing system operates?
Martin:
Like a control system, except for the absence of the reference signal.
Boy, I tell ya. This transition to self-organizing systems theory is
going to be a piece of cake!
The necessary constructs are some manner of diverting energy out of a
power flow into some small number of degrees of freedom, and some mechanism
whereby a small deviation from a particular state of those degrees of
freedom causes a substantial corresponding difference in the power flow to
those same degrees of freedom, which is the actual gain function.
But it acts like a control system, right? If you could just turn the
statement above into a set of program statements we could fire up the
model and show those shallow, narrow minded, intrasigent PCT weenies what
a self-organizing system can do.
As Bill P.
pointed out in the earlier discussion, this loop has to be asymmetric, or
there will be no gain, and as I point out, no self-organization.
You mean Bill P. already knows how self-organizing systems work?!?!
And he still does not include them in the PCT model. Boy, talk
about narrow minded. Am I glad I got out of that cult.
We do not have the Jan 1994 issue of the American Psychologist in our library
(or any issue since 1972), but we do have two people reputed to be APA
members, who might have it. If the article's description of self-organization
is as you say, I may have some harsh words of my own about it after I have
seen it.
Good for you! And I would really like to see your comments on the article,
being that I'm a new member of the self organizing systems group. I want
to see how self-organizing systems theory is properly applied. The
guy in American Psychologist was probably just trying to make the
theory sound acceptable to his audience. It didn't seem like he had
much to say about control systems with no reference input. I sure hope
you set him straight -- there's no telling how many American psychologists
have been led astray by that article. I'm glad that all you Canadian
psychologists were spared.
Best
Rick