Volume 08 of W. Ross Ashby's Journal
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1944



Volume 08



1799+04	1799+05


Society [13]: Why a civil servant should not show initiative! 1800. Society [16]: In a united section of society effects should be graduated or continuous, 1800.
1799+06	1800

Summary: Two points on applications to society.

1801	1802

Summary: Note on exposition.
Summary: The ordinary pendulum is not stable if we are referring to both position and velocity
1803	1804

Summary: Useful quotations.
Summary: There is no limit to the number of variables which have to be fixed to get an isolated or absolute system.
1805	1806

Society [17]: In society, variables must not be fixed thoughtlessly, 1807.
Oddments [14]: Effect on equilibrium of fixing a variablle, 1808. Numerical test of proportion which become unstable, 1995.
1807	1808


Summary: Notes on effect of fixing an economic variable. This may make a stable system unstable. Spur of joined machines. (see 1910) and (1995 bottom)
1809	1810

Summary: A detailed non-linear use.
Society [4]: Verdoom on complexity of society and need for regulation, 1812.
1811	1812

Summary: Effect on a field of fixing a variable.

1813	1814

Natural Selection [3]: Natural selection actually seen to work in the peppered moth, in Manchester 1723, in Plymouth crabs 1815, in American sparrows 1816, in most mutations 1883, in Drosophila with gene 'ebony' 1886.
Natural Selection [3]: Natural selection actually seen to work in the peppered moth, in Manchester 1723, in Plymouth crabs 1815, in American sparrows 1816, in most mutations 1883, in Drosophila with gene 'ebony' 1886.
1815	1816



1817	1817+01


Higher geometry of fields and matrix theory [20]: Forming system with given roots 1818, 2444.
1817+02	1818



1819	1820


Summary: (Under conditions) two linear systems are equiformal if and only if they have the same characteristic equation.
1821	1822


Higher geometry of fields and matrix theory [15]: If EQUATION, with roots r₁,...,r_n, to find ?r_p/?a_St, 0750, 1824. i.e. effect of coefficient on a root. Example 2066, 2401.
1823	1824


Summary: Examples of a system tending to restore previous constants. The Conditioned Reflex [9]: Two examples of a system stabilising a variable after the variable has been fixed repeatedly there, 1826.
1825	1826

Summary: Another actual absolute system.
Higher geometry of fields and matrix theory [9]: If, as matrices, EXPRESSION, then EXPRESSION, 1828.
1827	1828

Summary: Equation of the plane which contains n consecutive points. Higher geometry of fields and matrix theory [3]: Equation of the plane which contains n consecutive points of the path, 1829.

1829	1830



1831	1832



1833	1834


Summary: Review of Spencer, with useful quotations. Natural Selection [25]: Waves on the coast as selective operators, 1737. So is a ratchet, 1836. Erosion and rain has a peculiarity, 1947. Society [10]: Herbert Spencer notes equilibrium in society, 1836.
1835	1836


Natural Selection [29]: The projective operators of quantum theory are selective; they have no inverses; 1838. A remarkable possibility to be noted, 1838.
1837	1838

Summary: Independence over two regions.
Summary: Several parts, all unstable, can form a stable whole. (Simple example 2044)
1839	1840

1945



1841	1842


Summary: Routh's test for stability. (Ready for use, 1862)
1843	1844


Summary: The probability of stability is in general unsolvable, but certain special cases might be attacked again later. (Continued 1868)
1845	1846


Summary: Some facts which any organisation must stabilise.
1847	1848

Summary: Stability, and not mere fixity, is needed in society, even if only to deal with small errors. Society [19]: Stability, not merely fixity, is essential, 1849. Society [22]: Variables which have to be stabilised in society 1849.

1849	1850

Summary: Unstable equilibrium in a society. Society [18]: Actual example of unstable equilibrium in a country, 1851, two more examples, 2434.
Natural Selection [40]: Survival-value is the crux of the whole thing, 1852. Are two values to each selective operator 1853. Words for it, 1853.
1851	1852

Summary: Some suggestions for a word to mean "survival-value". Note on selective operators. Natural Selection [40]: Survival-value is the crux of the whole thing, 1852. Are two values to each selective operator 1853. Words for it, 1853.
Maze T.A. Ross' machine
1853	1854


Summary: A machine that learns.
1855	1856

Summary: Part-function is now redefined.

1857	1858


Summary: If there are many commutive systems sometimes affecting one another, and a parameter taking several values affects one of them, the fields in that one resulting have maximal survival-probability when all the neutral points are in the same place. (See next note) (see 1942)
1859	1860


Summary: It is to be remembered that Fisher's book was highly successful though no formal proofs are given anywhere.
1861	1862



1863	1863+01


Summary: Routh's test for stability given in immediately usable form.
1863+02	1864



1865	1866

Summary: The relations of independences and activations of part-functions.

1867	1868


Summary: There is good reason to assume that the chance of stable equilibrium will often fall off as (1/2)ⁿ. Society [28]: Shakespeare quotation on conflict in man and society 1870.
1869	1870



1871	1872



1873	1874

Summary: For a system to get adapted by parts, it is proved necessary that most of the features of a distributive must be present; i.e. there is no other way. (Improved, 1985)

1875	1876

Summary: Sex activity by my theory must result in a lowering of impulse-density.

1877	1878

Summary: Two adaptations may be better than two independent adaptations. Parachute and instability
Summary: In future, I hope to effect an improvement in literary style.
1879	1880

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1881	1882

Natural Selection [3]: Natural selection actually seen to work in the peppered moth, in Manchester 1723, in Plymouth crabs 1815, in American sparrows 1816, in most mutations 1883, in Drosophila with gene 'ebony' 1886. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1883	1884

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Natural Selection [3]: Natural selection actually seen to work in the peppered moth, in Manchester 1723, in Plymouth crabs 1815, in American sparrows 1816, in most mutations 1883, in Drosophila with gene 'ebony' 1886. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1885	1886

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Summary: Mendelian theory vs. Distributive theory. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1887	1888

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1889	1890

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Summary: Mendelian and neuronic adaptations compared and contrasted. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1891	1892

Summary: "Dominant and recessive" applied to a distributive system. Natural Selection [14]: Mendelian "dominant" and "recessive" applied to distributive system 1893. Financial example 1897. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.

1893	1894

Summary: A dynamic system must definitely either proceed to equilibrium or to infinity.
Independence types of Society [5]: Humorous illustration of the difficulty of getting organised spontaneously, 1896.
1895	1896

Natural Selection [14]: Mendelian "dominant" and "recessive" applied to distributive system 1893. Financial example 1897. Society [20]: "Dominant" and "recessive" in the economic world, 1897.
Oddments [3]: If A dominates B, study of B cannot reveal the organisation of A, 1898.
1897	1898

Oddments [19]: "Observing" a dynamic system means joining oneself on to it to form an "hourglass" organisation, 1899.
Summary: It seems that, if A dominates B, no examination of B's behaviour can reveal the organisation of A. To "examine" B means that the observer forms an hour-glass system with it.
1899	1900



1901	1902



1903	1904

Summary: In forming a big organisation the process must be (1) to list the main* variables, (2) to attempt stability by the same number of completely independent commutive systems, (3) with variables which refuse to get stable, add small joins, letting them be few in number and simple in type (i.e. step-functions). [* Now called 'essential', not 'main'.] Society [21]: In forming any social system the joins should be minimal, 1905.

1905	1906



1907	1908

Summary: Usable extracts from Sherrington's "Life's unfolding".

1909	1910



1911	1912

Entropy Schrödinger on Natural Selection [41]: A gene has two survival-values, its chance of being destroyed by a competitor, and its chance of being destroyed by thermal agitation, 1913.

1913	1914


Summary: Extract of Schrödinger.
1915	1916



1917	1918

Summary: For the world to be suitable to be adapted to, it must contain a large proportion of part-functions.
Oddments [5]: Dealing with unobservables in physics, Eddington on, 1920.
1919	1920


Summary: Inactive variables cannot transmit effects, either from other variables or from bounds. (Converse 1977)
1921	1922


Summary: Masserman on what happens when an animal meets a deliberately chaotic environment.
1923	1924


Summary: "Break" is better "saltus".
1925	1926


Summary: Quotation from Wells. Note on the basic meaning of "organisation". Organisation Wells on
1927	1928



1929	1930



1931	1932


Summary: Simple, worked-out examples for exposition.
1933	1934


Summary: Distributive system vs. Genetic analogue. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1935	1936

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1937	1938

Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.
1939	1940

Summary: A further list of correspondences between genetic and neuronic adaptation. Natural Selection [21]: A full discussion of adaptation in heredity compared with adaptation by commution, { 1881 - 1893 } Complementary list, { 1936 - 1941 }.

1941	1942

Summary: In a distributive system, if from time to time certain variables are constrained to certain values, the variables will tend to become in equilibrium at those values. (Better 2015) Also 1981, 2011, 2012 The Conditioned Reflex [3]: Simple conditioned reflex as an elementary property of the commutive system, 1621. Still unsolved, 1943. Solved with multistable system, 1982. Further observations, 2064, 2490. Still unsolved, with reasons, 2192, 2243. The Conditioned Reflex [11]: In a multistable system, if variables are repeatedly forced to certain values they will tend to become stabilised there, 1943. Improved statement, 2015, 2240.
Natural Selection [28]: Selective operators 1536. Five discovered by me, 1944.
1943	1944


Summary: So far I have discovered five basic operators and their variants.
1945	1946

Summary: The peculiarities of a system (may) impose "drifts" on the field, to which any path must conform. Natural Selection [25]: Waves on the coast as selective operators, 1737. So is a ratchet, 1836. Erosion and rain has a peculiarity, 1947.

1947	1948



1949	1950



1951	1952

Summary: Exposition.

1953	1954



1955	1956



1957	1958

Summary: Points on exposition.

1959	1959+01

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