[1]Principia Cybernetica Web

                      Special Issue on "The Quantum of Evolution"

   Heylighen F., Joslyn C. & Turchin V. (1995) (eds.): The Quantum of Evolution.
   Toward a theory of metasystem transitions, ( [externallink.GIF] [2]Gordon and
   Breach Science Publishers, New York) (special issue, Vol. 45:1-4, of "
   [externallink.GIF] [3]World Futures: the journal of general evolution).
     ____________________________________________________________________________

Contents:

     * F. Heylighen & C. Joslyn: Towards a theory of metasystem transitions:
       introduction to the special issue, p. 1
     * V. Turchin: [4]A Dialogue on Metasystem Transition, p. 5
     * F. Heylighen: [externallink.GIF] [5](Meta)systems as Constraints on
       Variation: a classification and natural history of MST's), p. 59
     * C. Joslyn: [6]Semantic Control Systems (compressed postscript), p. 87
     * William T. Powers: [externallink.GIF] [7]The origins of purpose: the first
       metasystem transitions), p. 125
     * Jon Umerez & Alvaro Moreno: [externallink.GIF] [8]Origin of Life as the First
       Mst - Control Hierarchies and Interlevel Relation), p. 139
     * Charles François: [externallink.GIF] [9]An Integrative View of Meta System
       Transition), p. 173
     * E. Moritz: [externallink.GIF] [10]Metasystems, Memes and Cybernetic
       Immortality), p. 181
     * F. Heylighen & Donald T. Campbell: [externallink.GIF] [11]Selection of
       Organization at the Social Level: obstacles and facilitators of MST's), p.
       181
     * R. Glueck & A. Klimov: [externallink.GIF] [12]Metasystem Transitions in
       Computer Science and Mathematics (rtf format)), p. 213

Theme

   The Principia Cybernetica philosophical framework is based on a core idea: the
   [13]Metasystem Transition (MST). This concept was proposed by Turchin (1977) to
   describe the process whereby, through variation and natural selection, a new
   control level emerges, integrating a set of subsystems at the level below. A
   metasystem transition functions as a "quantum of evolution", a discrete jump to a
   higher level of complexity. It thus provides a general principle to explain
   evolutionary "progress" or development.

   The major steps in evolution, such as the origin of life, multicellularity, or
   the origin of thought, can be viewed as large scale metasystem transitions. Thus,
   the history of life and the universe can be conceptualized as a (branching)
   sequence of MSTÍs, leading to ever more complex, adaptive, and intelligent
   systems: from atoms and molecules, to dissipative structures, cells,
   multicellular organisms, organisms capable of movement or learning, and finally
   to human culture (as the provisionally highest level). [14]MST Theory (MSTT) can
   also be used to make predictions about the future, thereby helping us to
   anticipate the next level of organization to which we are evolving.

   We felt it appropriate to bring together the latest ideas about MSTT developed
   within the Principia Cybernetica Project and a number of related ideas by other
   researchers. Therefore, we decided to edit a major collection of papers on the
   theory, with contributions from ourselves as well as from invited authors. World
   Futures, which "is dedicated to the study of general patterns of change and
   development, in nature as well as society, and to evolutionary processes, with
   special attention to multidisciplinary approaches", seemed the perfect venue for
   the publication of a collection on such a wide-ranging subject with essential
   implications for our evolutionary future.

   Although the MST concept has shown its explanatory and unifying ability in many
   domains, several basic questions about MST Theory remain to be addressed.
   Furthermore, in parallel with Turchin, other researchers have developed similar
   schemes for analysing evolutionary levels (without focusing on the process of the
   emergence of a new level). For example, William Powers (1973) has proposed a
   hierarchy of control levels, and Donald T. Campbell (1974) has introduced a
   nested hierarchy of [15]vicarious selectors. Our intention was to start a
   dialogue among these different approaches, and to move towards resolution of the
   remaining incompleteness and inconsistencies.

   This required the clarification of the basic concepts and principles needed to
   understand levels of organization (e.g., system, control, constraint, variety,
   hierarchy, model) and the evolutionary transitions between them (e.g.,
   self-organization, emergence, blind variation, selective retention, and the MST
   itself). Moreover, we wanted to show some of the applications of MST Theory, such
   as supercompilation in computer science, and the evolution towards future
   "cybernetic immortality". Although there is as yet no consensus on many of these
   topics, we hope that this collection of papers provides a least a clear overview
   of the main issues and the different approaches to this fascinating new domain.

   The collection starts (appropriately enough) with a paper by Turchin, the
   originator of the theory. In the form of a dialogue between himself and an
   imaginary discussant, he outlines the theory, expounds the main philosophical
   assumptions underlying it, and answers some common objections. The two subsequent
   papers, by the other editors of this collection, attempt a more formal and
   systematic analysis of some of the fundamental concepts. Heylighen develops a
   classification and definition of supersystem, metasystem and metasystem
   transition (which is in some respects different from TurchinÍs), and uses it to
   analyse the most important MST's in the history of evolution. Joslyn then
   develops some fundamental ideas logically prior to the MST, including the
   concepts of "system" and "control", the essential role of semantics in control,
   and the various roles played by "distinction", "constraint", "variety", and other
   systems theoretical concepts.

   Powers opens the series of invited papers by applying ideas from his own
   Perceptual Control Theory (Powers, 1973) to conceive of a possible,
   feedback-based scenario for the origin of life, which is also the origin of
   control systems, and thus a primary MST. Jon Umerez and Alvaro Moreno give an
   overview of developments in theoretical biology and systems theory parallel to
   MST Theory, and discuss some difficult philosophical questions about interlevel
   relations, similarly focusing on the origin of life. Charles François proposes a
   number of concepts developed outside MST Theory which may help to better
   understand the MST concept, and discusses the on-going MST in human society as a
   possible application. Elan Moritz similarly applies MST Theory, in conjunction
   with memetics (the theory of memes), to discuss the possible evolution of
   cybernetically immortal "beings". Heylighen and Campbell survey the evolution of
   social control mechanisms, with the aim of better understanding the patterns of
   cooperation and competition between selfish individuals, and the MSTs shaping
   present society. Finally, Robert Glueck and Andrei Klimov review the applications
   of MST Theory in computer science and mathematics, which are based on the
   technique of metacomputation: the manipulation of programs (linguistic models) by
   other (or the same) programs.

References

     * Campbell D.T. (1974): "Evolutionary Epistemology", in: The Philosophy of Karl
       Popper, Schilpp P.A. (ed.), (Open Court Publish., La Salle, Ill.), p.
       413-463.
     * Powers, WT: (1973) Behavior, the Control of Perception, Aldine, Chicago
     * Turchin, Valentin: (1977) [16]The Phenomenon of Science, Columbia University
       Press, New York
     * Turchin, Valentin: (1981) [externallink.GIF] [17]Inertia of Fear and the
       Scientific Worldview, Columbia University Press, New York
     ____________________________________________________________________________

   [18]Copyright© 1996 Principia Cybernetica - [19]Referencing this page

   Author
   F. [20]Heylighen, & C. [21]Joslyn,

   Date
   Mar10, 1996 (modified)
   Jul 3, 1995 (created)

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                                    [28]Discussion
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     * [29]Variation and Natural Selection Must Have the Same Cause, Comment by
       Robert Hamilton

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