JB_WaysofBeing_Non-Binary Machines

Non-Binary Machines

Ancient Site of Delphi

• Delphi, located on southern slopes of Mount Parnassus, was revered in ancient times as an oracle's home.

• Travelers sought wisdom, prophecy, and guidance there.

• The site is notably linked to Zeus, who identified it as the center of the Earth (omphalos).

• Ancient Greeks interpreted Delphi's prophecies as rooted in the earth, likely through trance states or plant chewing (e.g., laurel, oleander).

The Oracle and Socratic Wisdom

• The Oracle's famous declaration: "no man is wiser than Socrates."

• Socrates embraced the Oracle’s wisdom, committing his life to learning and acknowledging his ignorance.

• This Socratic awareness encourages openness to new knowledge and recognizes limitations of existing tools.

• Technology shapes cultural thought; once ingrained in a tool, alternative viewpoints become difficult.

Technology and Perception

• The phrase "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" exemplifies how tools can limit perspective.

• Modern computers profoundly influence our understanding of reality, enforcing a specific worldview.

• Most computers utilize binary architecture (1s and 0s) and operate uniformly, shaping our thought processes and definitions of knowledge.

Turing Machines

• The Turing machine, conceived by Alan Turing in 1936, influenced modern computing.

• Defined as an imaginary model comprising a long strip of tape (memory) and a read/write head (processor).

• It executes every computational task performed today, remaining the foundation for numerous technologies.

• Turing classified machines as 'a-machines' (automatic) or 'o-machines' (oracle machines which can adapt based on information not predefined).

The Concept of Decidability

• Turing machines address decidability (solving yes/no questions algorithmically) while acknowledging the limits of computability.

• Undecidability refers to our inability to know certain things, opening up avenues for new understanding.

• The belief that everything can be quantified into decision problems has led to oversimplification in various fields (e.g., economics, psychology).

Cybernetics and Adaptive Technologies

• Cybernetics studies communication and control in animals and machines, emphasizing self-adapting systems.

• William Grey Walter's robots (tortoises) demonstrated adaptive behavior, contrasting the rigid programming of early computers.

• The homeostat by W. Ross Ashby illustrated self-correcting systems capable of achieving stability despite disturbances.

Unconventional Computing

• Advancements in unconventional computing highlight the possibility of using living organisms and biological processes for computation.

• Beer's attempt to create a Cybernetic Factory exemplified using interconnected systems that can learn and adapt.

• Experiments included innovative uses of Euglena and Daphnia in feedback systems related to automation processes.

• Concepts of computability can shift when considering the interactions and behaviors of biological organisms.

Rethinking Technology and Computation

• Proposals suggest using environmental and biological systems in technology to create responsive systems that embody complexity.

• Memristors (devices retaining state), are potential pathways for creating advanced computational systems tuned to natural analog processes.

• New technologies should embrace non-binary thinking, decentralization, and an acknowledgment of limitations (unknowing).

The Political Implications of Adaptive Systems

• Beer’s work showcases the overlap between technology and politics, as well as the implications of systems on human lives and governance.

• Cybernetics can act as a collaborative tool for more equitable societies.

• Building an oracle machine involves recognizing and embracing the more-than-human world, shifting perspectives towards inclusivity and adaptability.

Non-Binary Machines

Ancient Site of Delphi

Delphi, located on the southern slopes of the majestic Mount Parnassus in Greece, was revered in ancient times as the home of the Oracle of Delphi. This site was not only a significant religious center but also a prestigious sanctuary where travelers from various regions sought wisdom, prophecy, and guidance. Delphi was considered the navel of the world, notably linked to the god Zeus, who proclaimed it as the center of the Earth (known as the omphalos). Pilgrims visited the Oracle, often feasting on the plant laurel or chewing oleander, to enter trance states believed to enhance their connection to the divine. The Oracle's cryptic prophecies were deeply intertwined with the cultural and political decisions of ancient Greek city-states, influencing everything from personal endeavors to state affairs.

The Oracle and Socratic Wisdom

The Oracle’s famous declaration, "no man is wiser than Socrates," carried profound implications for philosophical inquiry. Socrates embraced this wisdom as a foundational principle, dedicating his life to learning and self-examination. This Socratic awareness fostered an openness to acquiring new knowledge while rigorously acknowledging the limits of existing tools and understanding. The idea suggests that technology shapes cultural thought; once a perspective becomes ingrained in a tool or system, it often renders alternative viewpoints difficult to conceptualize or accept.

Technology and Perception

The adage "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" captures how tools can constrain an individual's perspective. In modernity, computers possess a profound impact on our understanding of reality, enforcing a specific and often binary worldview. The architecture of most computers relies on a binary system (1s and 0s), which operates uniformly, ultimately shaping our thought processes and definitions of knowledge. This uniformity may limit our ability to consider more complex and nuanced interpretations of the world around us.

Turing Machines

The concept of the Turing machine, developed by the British mathematician and logician Alan Turing in 1936, was groundbreaking for the field of computer science. A Turing machine is defined as an imaginary model including an infinite strip of tape (representing memory) and a read/write head (acting as a processor) that executes defined rules to perform calculations. This foundational idea maintains relevance in the design and functionality of contemporary computing technologies. Turing classified machines into two categories: 'a-machines' (automatic) designed to execute predetermined tasks and 'o-machines' (oracle machines) that can adapt based on new information not originally accounted for. This conceptualization challenges us to consider more adaptive forms of computation.

The Concept of Decidability

Turing machines introduce the concept of decidability, emphasizing the ability to algorithmically solve yes/no questions while recognizing the inherent limits of computability. The term 'undecidability' describes scenarios in which certain problems cannot be resolved using established methods, presenting opportunities for novel understanding. Overreliance on the assumption that all phenomena can be quantified into decision problems has led to oversimplification across fields such as economics, psychology, and artificial intelligence, resulting in limited insights.

Cybernetics and Adaptive Technologies

Cybernetics is an interdisciplinary field focused on the study of communication and control processes in biological organisms and machines, with particular emphasis on self-adapting systems. The work of William Grey Walter, who created robotic tortoises, demonstrated adaptive behavior and learning capabilities, contrasting the rigid programming inherent in early computational devices. Additionally, the homeostat designed by W. Ross Ashby illustrated principles of self-correction within systems, showcasing how stability can be achieved despite external disturbances. These examples lead us to consider adaptive technologies' potential to mimic natural processes.

Unconventional Computing

Recent advancements in unconventional computing suggest the feasibility of using biological entities and natural processes for computational purposes. Stafford Beer’s endeavors to establish a Cybernetic Factory highlight the interconnectedness of systems aimed at learning and adaptation. Innovative experimental designs have incorporated living organisms such as Euglena and Daphnia into feedback systems that relate to automation and decision-making processes. This exploration of the interactions between biological organisms and computational methods can fundamentally shift the understanding of computability itself.

Rethinking Technology and Computation

Proposals for the future of technology advocate for integrating environmental and biological systems in designing responsive and adaptive systems that embody inherent complexities. Devices like memristors, which retain their state even after power is turned off, represent potential avenues for developing advanced computational systems that align with natural processes. Additionally, new technologies must embrace non-binary thinking, foster decentralization, and acknowledge human limitations—reflecting a shift toward inclusivity in technological evolution.

The Political Implications of Adaptive Systems

Stafford Beer’s work illuminates the intricate relationship between technology and politics, as well as the implications of adaptive systems on governance and human life. Cybernetic principles can serve as collaborative tools to promote more equitable societies by facilitating continuous dialogue and adaptation. Building a functional oracle machine involves recognizing and embracing a more-than-human world, urging a shift in perspective towards wider inclusivity, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of interdependencies within ecosystems, both technological and biological.