Systems Theory and Scientific Philosophy - An Application of the Cybernetics of W. Ross Ashby to Personal and Social Philosophy, the Philosophy of Mind, and the Problems of Artificial Intelligence (Paperback, illustrated edition)

Systems Theory and Scientific Philosophy constitutes a new approach to philosophy, the philosophy of mind and the problems of artificial intelligence, and is based upon the pioneering work in cybernetics of W. Ross Ashby. While science is humanity's attempt to know how the world works and philosophy its attempt to know why, scientific philosophy is the application of scientific techniques to questions of philosophy. Bryant explores utility theory, the theories of relative existence and build-up release, and analyses such hitherto-unidentified phenomena as positive pleasure, the problems of voting motivation, the trademark paradox, the paradox of value, and Gresham's Law for drugs.