If I am not misinterpreting him, his concepts and those used here
Are equivalent thus:
Coenetic variable (CVo)
Response (Rt1)
Environmental circumstances (Et1)
Subsequent occurrence (Gt2)
↔ Disturbance (D)
↔ Response (R)
↔ Table (T)
↔ Outcome (E)
A reading of his book may thus help to extend much of the theory
Given in this Part, for he discusses the subject extensively.
The law now enables us to see the relations existing
Between the various types of variety and information that affect
The living organism.
A species continues to exist (S.10/14) primarily because its
Members can block the flow of variety (thought of as disturbance)
To the gene-pattern (S.10/6), and this blockage is the species’ most
Fundamental need. Natural selection has shown the advantage to
Be gained by taking a large amount of variety (as information)
Partly into the system (so that it does not reach the gene-pattern)
And then using this information so that the flow via R blocks the
Flow through the environment T.
This point of view enables us to resolve what might at first seem
A paradox— that the higher organisms have sensitive skins,
Responsive nervous systems, and often an instinct that impels
Them, in play or curiosity, to bring more variety to the system than
Is immediately necessary. Would not their chance of survival be
Improved by an avoidance of this variety?
The discussion in this chapter has shown that variety (whether
Information or disturbance) comes to the organism in two forms.
There is that which threatens the survival of the gene-pattern— the
Direct transmission by T from D to E. This part must be blocked
At all costs. And there is that which, while it may threaten the
Gene-pattern, can be transformed (or re-coded) through the regu-
Lator R and used to block the effect of the remainder (in T). This
Information is useful, and should (if the regulator can be pro-
Vided) be made as large as possible; for, by the law of Requisite
Variety, the amount of disturbance that reaches the gene-pattern
Can be diminished only by the amount of information so transmit-
Ted. That is the importance of the law in biology.
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It is also of importance to us as we make our way towards the
Last chapter. In its elementary forms the law is intuitively obvious
And hardly deserving statement. If, for instance, a press photogra-
212
Pher would deal with twenty subjects that are (for exposure and
Distance) distinct, then his camera must obviously be capable of
At least twenty distinct settings if all the negatives are to be
Brought to a uniform density and sharpness. Where the law, in its
Quantitative form, develops its power is when we come to con-
Sider the system in which these matters are not so obvious, and
Particularly when it is very large. Thus, by how much can a dicta-
Tor control a country? It is commonly said that Hitler’s control
Over Germany was total. So far as his power of regulation (in the
Sense of S.10/6) was concerned, the law says that his control
Amounted to just 1 man-power, and no more. (Whether this state-
Ment is true must be tested by the future; its chief virtue now is
That it is exact and uncompromising.) Thus the law, though trite in
The simple cases, can give real guidance in those cases that are
Much too complex to be handled by unaided intuition.
CONT ROL
The formulations given in this chapter have already sug-
Gested that regulation and control are intimately related. Thus, in
S.11/3, Table 11/3/1 enables R not only to achieve a as outcome
In spite of all D’s variations; but equally to achieve b or c at will.
We can look at the situation in another way. Suppose the deci-
Sion of what outcome is to be the target is made by some control-
Ler, C, whom R must obey. C’s decision will affect R’s choice of
α, β or γ; so the diagram of immediate effects is
D → T → E
C → R
Thus the whole represents a system with two independent inputs,
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C and D.
Suppose now that R is a perfect regulator. If C sets a as the tar-
Get, then (through R’s agency) E will take the value a, whatever
Value D may take. Similarly, if C sets b as target, b will appear as
Outcome whatever value D may take. And so on. And if C sets a
Particular sequence— a, b, a. c, c, a, say— as sequential or com-
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