One of the lost classics of French philosophy, Cybernetics and the Origin of Information has never before been published in English. Raymond Ruyer-who was a major influence on Simondon and Deleuze, among others-originally wrote this book, one of the first critiques of Norbert Wiener's cybernetics program, in 1954. At once critical and analytical, it is a deep exploration of information theory, cybernetics, and the philosophical assumptions and implications of both. Among the themes covered in the book are the main types of information machines, information's relationship to behavior and communication, and the nature of entropy and time in cybernetics. This translation contributes to understanding the rich history of cybernetics and the philosophy of information. A true hidden gem in the history of philosophical thought, this text will help readers understand foundational criticisms of ideas that have led to artificial intelligence.

About the Author

Raymond Ruyer (1902-1987) was professor of philosophy at the Universite de Nancy. A highly original and prolific philosopher, he sought to provide a metaphysics adequate to the discoveries of science. Today his works are being rediscovered by a new generation, both in France and beyond. Cybernetics and the Origin of Information is his third book to appear in English translation, after Neofinalism and The Genesis of Living Forms.

Amelie Berger-Soraruff is research project manager at the Maison Francaise d'Oxford.

Andrew Iliadis is assistant professor of media studies at Temple University.

Daniel W. Smith is professor of philosophy at Purdue University.

Ashley Woodward is senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Dundee.

Reviews

This book should be read by anyone interested in cybernetics, information theory, and the philosophy of information. In it, Ruyer critically distances himself from classic approaches to automation and information, which will shape the development of information and communication technologies in the following decades. His philosophical discussion is balanced and insightful, often anticipating much later debates, and when the history of the philosophy of information will be written, Ruyer's work and this book will undoubtedly deserve a chapter. The translators must be congratulated for making this volume available in English, in an accessible and reliable translation.

-- Luciano Floridi, professor of philosophy and ethics of information, University of Oxford and professor of sociology of culture and communication, University of Bologna



Book Information
ISBN 9781786614971
Author Raymond Ruyer
Format Hardback
Page Count 242
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield International
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield International
Weight(grams) 535g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 158mm * 24mm