From Feedback Culture to Cybernetics

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse in historical context the foundations of contemporary cybernetics and to offer such a definition of cybernetics that corresponds both with cybernetics' original roots as well as its actual institutionalised research and development form. The article stresses deeply rooted engineering motivation of cybernetics, cybernetical man-machine metaphor, man-machine coupling and cybernetics as a discursive practice. The historical context is focused on the early period of American cybernetics and proto-cybernetics.