The Cybernetic Theory of Development: Mathematical Models for A Re-Evaluation of the Is-Ought Problem

How much Marxist is this idea? The work of Oskar Lange and Marxist philosophy will be much quoted in the book, the latter especially in the form exposed by the GDR collective of philosophers in their book 'Marxistische Philosophic' (Dietz, Berlin 1967). But the present book only suggests mathematical models, and such models must be distinguished from philosophical formulations at the verbal level. So it is more exact not to call my approach a Marxist one but rather - cybernetic. Because of the conspicuous similarity of some Marxist formulations and certain cybernetic ideas Marxist terminology will often accompaign the cybernetic constructions in this book. But here we of course meet the problem of compatibility of verbal language and mathematics. To my mind a mathematical model is in science always something more than a verbal philosophical formulation. It at least attempts at an unambiguity and exactness which is unattainable when using verbal language only. Therefore the cybernetic constructions in this book are an autonomous theory, which must be appraised on its own accord only. The aim of the book is thus a cybernetic one: to introduce a cybernetic approach to the problem of 'is' and 'ought'. Who wants to grasp the idea quickly he can read Chapters III and V. For a more complete picture include Chapter II and Chapter IV. Chapter I is there only to make a textbook: to give the necessary details for a beginner who is not privy to elementary mathematics. Chapter I is quite trivial, but to my experience just this kind of knowledge a social scientist wanting to read cybernetics is wanting.