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Index

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W. Ross Ashby's card index.

Ross indexed the contents of his Journal using the two card indexes that are visible in the open drawers of the green cabinet.

This page contains the complete "Alphabetical" index that is in the lower right-hand drawer, which contains 860 cards, with about 5,500 page references for 678 keywords. To search the index for particular words, you can either look at the primary keywords in the Keyword Cloud, or press Ctrl-F to search through the entire index page, including all the primary and secondary level keywords. Otherwise just scroll down.

Other Index

References to the other index or the special collection refer to the card index in the lower left-hand drawer, which is not yet available on this digital archive. For more information about the other index, click here.


Keyword Cloud

The following cloud contains all 678 keywords in a compact format, where the size of each keyword reflects how many page references it has in the index. Hovering the mouse over a keyword displays the exact number of page references the keyword has. Click a keyword to jump down to the corresponding index entry. If you want to concentrate on the most-indexed keywords, click the filtering links to adjust how many are displayed in the cloud.

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A Aberrations Abnormal behaviour Absolute system Absorbing state, in Markov chain Accessible state Accumulation (of adaptations) Achondroplasia Action Activity Adaptation Adaptive behaviour Addiction Additive adaptation Adjacency Affect Age Aging (as process) Aggregation Aggression Aim Alarm Algebra Algedonic Alpha rhythm Alternation Amasia Amines Amoeba Amplifier Amplification Amplitude limitation Analogy Analysis Anatomy Ancillary regulations Answer Anticipation Ants Application (Bourbaki) Arc Archer Army ASP ASS (Automatic Self-Strategizer) Association Associativity (mathematical) Asymmetry Atom Attention Auto-correlation Axiom Axon B Balance Basic pattern Basin Baudot code Bears Beginning Behaviour Between Bicycle Bilinear system Binary relations Binocular vision Bit (= binary digit) Black box, problem of the Blissard (calculus) Book Boolean algebra Brain Break Break surface Bremermann's limit Brick axiom Broadcast Broadcasting Brownian movement C Calculating machines Campbell's theorem Canalisation (Waddington) Canonical equations Canonical form Capacity Cause Central excitatory state Central inhibitory state Cerebral cortex Chain Channel Channel capacity Chasing Chatelier, Rule of Le Checkers Chemical dynamics Chemical garden Chess Child Chronaxy Chonaxy pattern Church's theorem Cipher Circularity Civil Service Class Clay Cleverness Closure Clumping Coursening Code Coding Coefficient Collapsing theorems Combinatorial dynamics Combinatorics Communication Compatibility Competition Complex equilibria Complex (Freudian) Complex variable Complexity Computing machines Conditionality Conditioned reflex Conduction, nerve Conflict Confluant Congruence Connexion Conscious mind Conservation of Complexity Consistency Constancy Constant intrinsic stability Constitution (political) Constraint Continuity Control Convergence (of lines of behaviour) Coordinates Coordination Copying Correlation Corespondence Cortex Cortex, motor Cortex, removal of Cortex, sensory Cortex, visual Costing Critical surface Cryptogram Curie's principle Currency Cycle Cylindrance D DAMS (Dispersive and Multistable System) Death Decay Decomposable Deduction Definition Degenerance, in system Degrees of freedom De-habituation Delay (in substitution) Demonstration Density in phase Dentist Dependance Deputy Derivative Design Design for a Brain Detailed Balancing, Principle of Determinate Diagram of immediate effects (D.I.E.) Dichotomy Difference Differential equation Differentiation Diffuse system Diffusion Digital computer Dimension Directive Directive correlation (Sommerhoff) Discrete Discontinuity Discrimination Dis-inhibition Disintegration Dispersion Display Distance Distinguishability Disturbance Divergence Domain Dominance Draughts (game of) Dream Dreams, day Dummy Dynamic system E ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) EEG (electroencephalogram) Effect, law of Efficiency Egyptian steam engine Eigen-theory Electroencephalogram Electron Emergent properties Emotion Encoding Energetics Energy England Ensemble Entropy Environment Epistemology Equilibrium Equivalence relation Ergodism Ernshaw's theorem Error Essential light of retina Essential variables Estimation Everywhere defined Evolution Excitation Expectation Experience Experiment Experimenter Explanation Exponential Extrapolation F Factorial Faculty Fatigue Feedback Feeding Feudal system Fibonacci's series Field (of substitution) Fixation Fleet, problem of the Force Forcing a variable Fringe Function Function rules Future Fuzzy set G Games Gating Geiger counter Gene General Staff Generation Genes Genius Geodetic path, postulate of Gestalt Goal Gödel's theorem Goldfish Graph Group (mathematical) Grundy function Gulliver H H Habituation Half-time of decay Hallucination Hamiltonian function Hawk He and She Helm incident Her Heredity Heuristic Hierarchy (of Bourbaki) History Holism Holography Homeostat Homeostasis Homogeneity Homomorphism Hour glass system Hunt and stick HYFI (Hydraulic Feedack Imitator) Hyohippus Hypnosis (mesmerism) I Ideal (mathematical) Identities Ignorance Imitation Immediate effect Immunity Implication Imprinting Impulse Impulse, nervous Impulse pattern Inaccessible (set of states) Incentive Independence Index (statistical) Indexed as far as Induction (gaining knowledge by induction) Induction (physiological) Infant Inference Information Inhibition Initial state Input Inscription Insight Insistance Instinct Instinct, sex Integral equation Integration (mathematical) Integration (physiological) Intelligence Interaction Interruption Introduction to Cybernetics Introspection Invariant Irreversible process Isolation Isomorphism Iterated systems J J - function (Ashby) Jacobian (determinant) Joining Jove's nod Juke box K Kernal relation (Riguet), =Noyau Kew certificate Kinaesthesia Kinematic graph Kinematics Knowing Knowledge L L(x+y) Lagrangian interpolation Laplace's equation: [▼^2V=0] Laplace transformation Large system Latent roots Laterality Lattice Law of Reciprocity of Connexions Laws of nature Le Chatelier, principle of Learning Least Safe Capacity Levels Library Life Linear graph Linear system Linearly dependent process Linkage Liouville's theorem Liquid state Localisation Logic Logon Loop M Machine Magnet in selection-amplifier Magnitude Manure Mapping Markov process (chain) Marriage Materialism Mathematics Matrix Maturity Max( ) (function) Maximal likelihood Maze Meaning Meanings of words in my form Measurement Meccano Memory Mesa phenomenon Message Metagnosis Metastability Metric Metron Mind (individual) Minimum Model Modification Money Moulding Multinomial Multistable reserve Multistable system Myotonia congenita N Natural selection Natural system Nearness Needle Neighborhood (in topology) Neon Nerve (peripheral) Network Neuron Neutral point (of equilibrium - including 'cycle', 'region' etc.) Newton's law Niche (ecological) Nirvanophilia Nod Noise Non-linear systems Noyau-relation (Riguet) N-tuple Null-function Number O Observable Observer Odd-one-out One-one-one relation Operational principle Operational research Operator Optimum Order Organisation Originality Orthogonality Oscillation Osty's Law Outcome Output Oyster P Pain Pallium Pandemonium (of Selfridge) Parachute Paramecium Parameter Parkinson's Law Part Part-function Partition Partly ordered set Parts Pattern (in general) Pay-off Pendulum Perceptron Percolation Permutation Phantom limit Philosophy Phrenology Pianist Pin table Pinch Plan Planet Plasticity Play Pleasure Politics Polystable Prediction Pre-fabrication Primary operation Probability Problem Problems Product set Program (of computer) Projection Proof Property Proposition Protocol Protomorphism Protoplasm Proxy Psychiatry Puzzle Box Q Q Quantum theory Question Quotations Quotient machine R Random Random numbers Randomiser Rank Reactions Reality Receptors Recognition Rectangularity Reducibility Reduction Redundancy Reflex Reflex, conditioned Regulation Relation Relay Remember that this index exists for my reference. The proper way of writing up the subject is probably very different. Remembering Reproduction Requisite Variety, Law of Resemblance Residues (of congruences) Resolution of physiological states Resting cycle Resting state Retina Retroactive inhibition Reversible process Review Reward Reynolds' number Rotation Rubin and Sitgreaves' set of transformations S Sample space Sampling distribution Scale Schizophrenia Science Searching Second Law (of thermodynamics) Secretary Selection Self-awareness Self-describing system Self-locking system Self-preservation, instinct of Semi-group Senility Sensation Sense organs Sentence Sequential machine Serial adaptation Servo-mechanism Set or Ensemble Shorthand Signal Silo Silting Similarity Simplicity Simplification Single-valued Size, effect of Society Solipsism Solution (to a problem) Sommerhoff's formulation Source-controlled regulation Space-time Species Specification Spectacles, transforming Speed Speed (of adaptation) Spontaneous generation Spraying Spreading operator Squeedunk Stability Stable set Standing Orders State State-determined system Static Statistic Statistical mechanics Steady state Steam engine Step function Step-mechanism Stimulus Stirling numbers Stochastic processes Strategy Structure Sub-goal Subjective Subset Substitution (mathematical) Sub-system Success Supplementation Survival Switching Symbolism Symbols Sympathy Synapse Systems T Table Tabula rasa Talandic Teleology Tensor Theorem Theory of Thermodynamics Thing Thinking Threshold Tilde Time Topology Trace reflex Traffic principle Training Trajectory Transducer Transfer function Transformation Transient Transition Transition probability Translation Transmission Transmission ratio Trap Treatment Trial and error Triunique Truth Turing machine U Ultrastability Uncertainty analysis Unconditionality Unconscious, the Unit Universe Unobservables Unsolved problems V Vacillant Valve Variable Variety Vector Veto Vicious circle Vigilance Virus Vision Visual cortex Vital variables Vorticella Vulnerability W Waves Whole Why ...? Z Z-transform Zato-coding Zero

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Keyword Index Entries

The rest of this page contains all index entries. Things that were difficult to read or impossible to type are indicated using square brackets, for example [formula]. To see the actual index cards, click on the Cards link for a keyword, and use the Feedback links in that view if you find an error in the index transcription.



Aberrations Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
analysis of 6724

Abnormal behaviour Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
meaning of 575

Absolute system Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
within absolute system 4116 4120 algebraic test 5058 examples, list of 5105 transition test 2918 Wiener on 3081 origin of 4030 3850 4043 with infinity of variables 2464 with complex variables 3911 rank of ∂(F1...F1)/∂(x...t) 4118 why not x=f-1 (x')? 3243 of homomorphism 4024 in history 5138 decay of information 5281 various divisions 5971 use in theory 6768

Absorbing state, in Markov chain Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
coupled 4904 Absorbing state, in Markov chain

Accessible state Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
4952 4624

Accumulation (of adaptations) Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
reducibility implied 5430 discrimination necessary 5417 fundamental rule 5436 rate of 5491 mechanism necessary 5757 essential variables for 5767 number of variables 5768 in multistable system 5775 may demand chance localisation 6165 demands separate channels 6227

Achondroplasia Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
Dickens' memory 6353 Wiki

Action Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
at a distance 5236

Activity Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
positive effect of 3956 variety of 2790 as information for feedback 5557 5550 spread over net, or decay 5678

Adaptation Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
two meanings 63 loss of 133 essential nature of 151 858 in insects 153 227 797 in Microstomum 256 in receptors 309 as "circle" 425 environment must be right 782 comes after learning 827 as probability 832 in breaks 888 References Ref. 446 1074 an illusion 910 396 sensory adaptation 915 939 statement 921 by break 966 1051 1063 1068 brain necessary 1053 Sherrington on 403 growing 1135 1204 1257 partial 1138 Jennings on 409 is equilibrium 1158 defined 1201 non-adaptation 1226 after previous adaptation 1250 chains of 1254 and mutations 1254 genes and adaptation 2303 as destruction of information 3940 4133 equals selection 4137 new formulation 4161 4164 speeding up adaptation 4241 { 4246 4247 4248 4249 4250 4251 4252 4253 4254 4255 4256 4257 } 4382 { 4560 4561 4562 4563 4564 4565 4566 4567 4568 4569 4570 4571 4572 4573 4574 4575 } 5284 motive power for 4537 of parts 4641 strategy of 4650 4947 as by-product 4930 after crossing muscles 2398 failures 2808 speed of See Speed (of adaptation) accumulation 5345 5592 sequential and simultaneous 5589 adaptation is to a set of disturbances 5612 mechanism for cumulative adaptation 5757 to any operator 5801 rate of 5806 6600 spontaneous generation 5960 demands parts 5962 5985 rapid adaptation demands equilibria 6133 faculties as adaptation 6229 anti-adaptation 6288 6405 evolutionary 6606

Adaptive behaviour Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
defined 57 classified by Holmes 66

Addiction Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
nature of 4648

Additive adaptation Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
and 'serial' additive adaptation 3071 essential 3089 example 3115 3643 3647 and relation to environment 3140 costing and 4635

Adjacency Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
5949

Affect Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
74 308 22 and dementia praecox 110 119 150 Affect laden thought 119 expression of affect See expression of emotion and thalamus 122 in cryptoscopy 279 and inhibition 283 288 of complex 211 largely conventional 257 and impulse pattern 260 like injury 333 and memory 344 of my problem 936 1136

Age Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
See History

Aging (as process) Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
4916 and entropy 4919

Aggregation Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
Reprint 125 [Page or Reprint?] Reprint 341 341 See Reducabiliy

Aggression Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
relation to paranoia 3655 and regulation 5571 Lorenz on 6620

Aim Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
See Goal

Alarm Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
and habituation 3845

Algebra Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
Black Box as 4457 4478 4505 machine and internal composition 4512 4746 5889 of coupled systems 5098

Algedonic Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
pain and pleasure different 6073

Alpha rhythm Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
in learning 2308 and cell's activities 4383 as mutation 6120 Wiki

Alternation Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
as operator 6754

Amasia Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
example 6450 6455

Amines Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
and memory 6130 Wiki

Amoeba Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
as 'higher' animal 342 can learn 912 habituation in 2470 movement at 6480 6694 Wiki

Amplifier Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
nature of 3644 3750 use of in ultrastability 4159 of power and variety 4166 entropy of 4282 nature of 4288 and loss of information 4417 and selection 4580 homeostat as 4722 4792 works by robbery 4726 limit of 4794 of regulation 4808 5073 demonstration 5076 and stability 3050

Amplification Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
in evolution 6554

Amplitude limitation Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
postulated in some systems 3283

Analogy Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
in maths 3818 Simon on analogy Reprint 144

Analysis Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
relativity of 5971 of variance 6678 of information flow 6950 6962

Anatomy Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
as constraint 3536 as D.I.E. (diagram of immediate effects) 6307

Ancillary regulations Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
finding extrapolation function 5684 may be invoked 5777

Answer Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
nature of 4349 cylindrance of 6884

Anticipation Cards | Thumbs | Cloud | Top
automatic 5845 of adaptations 5880