# Cybernetics Cybernetics is the transdisciplinary study of circular causal processes—[[Feedback|feedback]], recursion, variety, and control—in animals, machines, organizations, and societies. First-order technical parallels, second-order observer-inclusive epistemology, autopoiesis, viable-system models, and requisite variety form its core conceptual toolkit. <!-- LEGACYSIM:BEGIN v1.5 — generated by g03_mint_wave.py; three.js first; do not hand-edit inside --> ## Microsims (promoted from legacy — three.js first) ### MicroSim spec ### Parameters (tunable controls) - `Goal value` · 0–100 · reference the regulator steers toward - `Correction gain` · 0–5 · strength of the error-correcting feedback - `Disturbance` · -50–50 · environmental perturbation to be rejected ### What animates A regulator dial and an output trace converge on the goal as disturbances are rejected. ### Learning objective Show how circular feedback regulates a system toward a goal despite disturbances. ### MicroSim spec - **Recommended sim type:** particle/agent simulation - **Microsimmability score:** 100/100 - **Layout:** agent field (canvas) on top with an order-parameter readout; sliders below. ### Parameters (tunable controls) - `Number of agents N` - `Interaction radius` - `Coupling strength` ### What animates Many simple agents follow local rules; a global pattern emerges and shifts as the rule parameters change. ### Learning objective Show how local agent rules produce emergent global order. ### MicroSim spec - **Recommended sim type:** feedback loop - **Microsimmability score:** 82/100 - **Layout:** drawing region (canvas) on top; control region (sliders/buttons) below. ### Parameters (tunable controls) - `Goal value` - `Gain` - `Disturbance` ### What animates A regulator compares output to a goal and feeds back a correction, holding the [[System|system]] on target. ### Learning objective Explain regulation as feedback that minimizes the gap between output and goal. ### MicroSim spec - **Recommended sim type:** [[Control_system|control system]] - **Microsimmability score:** 78/100 - **Layout:** drawing region (canvas) on top; control region (sliders/buttons) below. ### Parameters (tunable controls) - `Setpoint` - `Feedback gain` - `Disturbance` ### What animates A self-regulating loop steers a variable back to its goal as [[Feedback|feedback]] gain changes. ### Learning objective Show how feedback lets a [[System|system]] regulate itself toward a goal. <!-- LEGACYSIM:END --> ## Reveal %%REVEAL:mermaid%% %%REVEAL:svg%% --- *Concept aligned with [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics); adapted text, where present, is licensed [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).* ## Overview [[Norbert_Wiener|Norbert Wiener]] named the field; the Macy circle around [[W._Ross_Ashby|W. Ross Ashby]], [[Gregory_Bateson|Gregory Bateson]], [[Margaret_Mead|Margaret Mead]], and [[Heinz_von_Foerster|Heinz von Foerster]] built it out, with [[Stafford_Beer|Stafford Beer]] steering organizations and [[Humberto_Maturana|Humberto Maturana]] and [[Francisco_Varela|Francisco Varela]] supplying autopoiesis for the observer-inclusive turn of [[Second-order_cybernetics|second-order cybernetics]]. [[Niklas_Luhmann|Niklas Luhmann]] carried the loop into social theory. Its formal kin are [[Control_theory|control theory]], [[Information_theory|information theory]], and [[Game_theory|game theory]]; its inheritors include [[Artificial_intelligence|artificial intelligence]], the [[Neural_network_(machine_learning)|neural network]], the [[Multi-agent_system|multi-agent system]], and today's studies of the [[Complex_system|complex system]], [[Emergence|emergence]], and [[Self-organization|self-organization]] within [[Systems_science|systems science]], [[Systems_theory|systems theory]], and [[Systems_biology|systems biology]]. ## Wikipedia : Wikitube **Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Cybernetics) ## Previous hub tags Hubs: `Systems`. Portals: [[PORTAL_Systems]], [[PORTAL_Cybernetics]].