Cybernetics, system(s) theory, information theory and fuzzy sets and systems in the 1950s and 1960s (Q621585): Difference between revisions

This paper reviews the history of information theory, cybernetics, and (general) systems theory from the work of \textit{R. V. L. Hartley} [``Transmission of information'', Bell. Syst. Tech. J. 7, No. 3, 535--563 (1928)], which established a measure of information, through the publication in 1948 both of \textit{N. Wiener}'s [Cybernetics, or control and communication in the animal and the machine. Paris: Hermann et Cie. etc. (1948), 2nd edition. New York-London: The MIT Press and John Wiley \& Sons, Inc. (1961; Zbl 0098.11705)] and \textit{C. E. Shannon}'s [``A mathematical theory of communication'', Bell Syst. Tech. J. 27, 379--423, 623--656 (1948; Zbl 1154.94303)]. Shannon's paper was introduced to many by an article in Scientific American by Warren Weaver (see also [\textit{C. E. Shannon} and \textit{W. Weaver}, The mathematics of communication. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press (1949; Zbl 0041.25804)]). \textit{L. von Bertalanffy}'s [``Allgemeine Systemtheorie'', Deutsche Universitätszeitung 12/1957, 8--12 (1957)] and \textit{L. A. Zadeh}'s [``Fuzzy sets'', Inf. Control 8, 338--353 (1965; Zbl 0139.24606)] receive due attention, as does \textit{C. W. Morris}' philosophical work [``Foundations of the theory of signs'', in: O. Neurath (ed.), International encyclopedia of unified science. Vol. 1, No. 2. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1938)].