NMR: "Men, Machines and the World About" summary (pgs. 65-72)

In his article "Men, Machines and the World About," Norbert Wiener discusses his new found field of science called "cybernetics," the study of mechanical and electronic systems designed to replace the control functions of human beings. In order to do so, cybernetics applies statistical mehcanics to communication technology. Central to his discussion in the article, however, is Wiener's discussion of the implications of microcomputer technology. Wiener proposes the idea that a new industrial revolution is taking place in which the energy of the machine is replacing the energy of the human/animal. Wiener says that the discrimination of the machine is taking the place of human judgement and discrimination. Although such a system would be economical being that it would save time by way of automation, such a system may be flawed and thus potentially harmful. Such a system may not be suited to make good judgements because the information provided may be too complicated, it may be influenced by ecological factors not accounted for by the judging system, and the judgement itself may be too complicated and disordered for human understanding. With this in mind, it can be concluded that humans should not incorporate the use of such a system unless every and all environmental/external factors can be accounted for or we will, by way of the machine, rip ourselves away from the ecological foundations that, in fact, sustain life. The dream of an entirely automated world can mean the end of human life.