## The Unified Promise (Post-WWII) Cybernetics began as a promising interdisciplinary field aiming to create a unified science of **information, feedback, and control**. It brought together mathematicians, neurologists, engineers, and social scientists to understand how any system—mechanical, biological, or social—regulates itself. This was the "early, interdisciplinary promise of cybernetics." For a brief, brilliant moment, it seemed possible to create a single, unified science of systems. Conferences like the Macy Conferences in the US and clubs like the Ratio Club in the UK brought these thinkers together. ## Faction 1: The "Line-Makers" → Computer Science * **Problem:** Simple, sequential tasks (e.g., line up 100 cubes red-side-up). Complexity is **additive**. * **Real-World Parallel:** Transmitting data (bit by bit), performing calculations (step by step). * **Outcome:** Made **rapid progress** due to mathematical tractability, clear applications (telecoms, military), and massive funding. This group evolved into **Information Theory and Computer Science**, driving the digital revolution. ## Faction 2: The "Puzzle-Solvers" → True Cybernetics * **Problem:** Complex, interconnected systems (e.g., solving a Rubik's Cube). Complexity is **multiplicative**. Every move affects the whole. * **Real-World Parallel:** Understanding brains, corporations, ecosystems. * **Outcome:** Faced **intractable challenges** ("combinatorial explosion"). Their work was seen as abstract and eccentric, lacking immediate commercial application. This group was underfunded and **"left behind."** ## Consequence: The "Great Brain Drain" The most talented minds were drawn to the success and funding of computer science. The original, holistic vision of cybernetics was marginalized. We developed powerful tools for simple, linear problems but failed to create a rigorous science for the complex, interconnected systems that now dominate our world.