Oswald Wiener's Theory of Thought

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Oswald Wiener (1935—2021) evolved from artist to researcher out of necessity, emphasizing the contrast between introspection and automata theory. He questioned how relationships identified in introspection could be understood within formal systems, such as automata theory, and how well these systems capture essential features of human thought. This book features three conversations with Wiener about his theoretical development and four essays that elaborate on this often-overlooked approach to the theory of thought. A key focus is Wiener's last major essay, “Cybernetics and Ghosts,” which encapsulates his insights. The collected essays revolve around Wiener's mind, revealing a well-developed domain of thought that exists in a parallel universe where computer scientists engage with philosophy of mind, and cybernetics and psychology continue to thrive. Wiener's perspective is particularly relevant in today's discourse on Artificial Intelligence, which often lacks philosophical depth from engineers and scientific rigor from humanities scholars. While engineers showcase practical algorithms and scholars present political opinions, Wiener remains a true intellectual, exploring the phenomenology of AI systems to understand their implications for mind, meaning, and reality construction.