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Dewhurst, David William 2011-06-08T11:22:29Z 2011-06-08T11:22:29Z 1990 http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5251 This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University. Controversies have existed for some time about cybernetics as a subject and difficulties have existed for students in obtaining an overview despite the fact that at some level several cybernetics concepts can be grasped by twelve year olds. An attempt is made to unpack the notion of a subject entity and to indicate how far elements in cybernetics conform to such a concept within a generally acceptable philosophy of science. Ambiguities and controversies among key themes of cybernetics are examined and resolutions offered. How far the nature of cybernetics is likely to create problems of understanding is discussed, along with approaches towards the empirical examination of how cybernetic ideas are understood. An approach to better understanding is formulated and used in an investigation of how and how effectively the concept of feedback is grasped by various groups. Suggestions are offered from the foregoing analysis as to the balance of problems within cybernetics and effective strategies for the future. Submitted by Otue Ekong (lbsrooe@brunel.ac.uk) on 2011-06-08T11:22:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FulltextThesis.pdf: 13089006 bytes, checksum: ad0db62e6d8da44955b5f42d82fcb6fa (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Otue Ekong(lbsrooe@brunel.ac.uk) on 2011-06-08T11:22:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 FulltextThesis.pdf: 13089006 bytes, checksum: ad0db62e6d8da44955b5f42d82fcb6fa (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2011-06-08T11:22:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FulltextThesis.pdf: 13089006 bytes, checksum: ad0db62e6d8da44955b5f42d82fcb6fa (MD5) en Brunel University Theses http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/5251/1/FulltextThesis.pdf Ambiguity Controversy Resolution Conceptual and cognitive problems in cybernetics Thesis