[from Mary Powers 950916]
Jon Scott Moneymaker:
If you post your address I will send you the PCT Resource Guide,
which lists titles and sources for books and computer disks. You
can get it off the net too, but someone else will have to tell
you how.
* * *
James Culbertson:
By asserting the misleading nature of terms like control,
purpose, and perception, are you asking why we use them?
Control theory is often thought to be merely mechanistic, since
it was originally developed by engineers who built control
devices out of mechanical and later electronic parts. Two things
about that: 1) control engineers were trying (successfully) to
duplicate an (until then) unique function of living systems, the
ability to control. What we are concerned with on this net is to
apply the concepts - developed by engineers to support what they
were doing - back to the living systems from which their ideas
were originally derived. 2) Control is a function arising from a
particular arrangement or organization, and it is irrelevant
whether it is reified in a mechanism, or a silicon-based, or a
carbon-based (living, organic) system.
The term "perception" is functionally equivalent to "input
function". It does not seem misleading to use it when the
control systems of interest are living systems.
We find the concept of purposive behavior a bit more than
"somewhat useful". I realize that many scientists are deeply
engaged in trying to explain the apparent purposiveness of
behavior by recourse to other theories - complexity, chaos, or
whatever the flavor of the month is. We find it far more simple
and productive, and as fully grounded in math and physics, to
define purposive behavior as what a control system does.
Behavior generated by a control system is for the purpose of
altering the environment so as to bring a perceived state of
affairs to a reference (desired, intended) state.
My purpose here is to explain a little bit about control theory,
in hopes that you will be interested and want to know more. What
was your purpose in posting to the net?
* * *
To everybody:
The Control Systems Group is an organization of people interested
in Perceptual Control Theory. Our purpose is to enable people
from many different disciplines, who are widely scattered
geographically, and who find their interest in PCT often met with
indifference, incomprehension, and sometimes downright hostility,
to share their thinking and work with other PCTers. We have
existed as an organization since 1985, and have held eleven
meetings in the U.S. and one in Wales. The 1996 meeting is
scheduled for July 17-21 in Flagstaff, AZ. Our primary means of
contact other than the meetings is through this net, though not
all members of the CSG are on the net. In order to hold the
meetings and maintain contact with non-net members, we ask
interested people to join the CSG. The fee of $20 takes care of
mailing and office expenses, but most of it is used to enable us
to waive conference fees for people who can't afford them,
primarily students.
Everyone who attended the 1995 conference is a paid-up member, as
is everyone who sent in dues since Jan. 1. This is a request for
others to help support the CSG by sending their $20 ($5 for
students and the financially impaired) to
Mary A. Powers
The Control Systems Group
73 Ridge Place
Durango CO 81301-8136
We are a 591(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, so dues count as
donations. If you would like a copy of the PCT Introduction and
Resource guide, please say so when you send your check.
Mary P.