The Role of Models in Science (1945) by Arturo Rosenblueth and Norbert Wiener takes a wonderfully logical and systematic approach to reasoning about the role of models, and modelers, in science.
I like how youʻre taking "a rigorous approach to building an incredibly detailed and elaborate formal description of Bitcoin" using George Mobusʻ model. As you point out, itʻs the first step. Wiener saw systems primarily as feedback loops and he worked with mathematical models. Modeling how a system changes through time (I guess that I should say "simulating" here) is an entirely different project. Algorithms in a computing environment offer all kinds of possibilities. Integration of various types–feedback loops, network/agent-based, etc.–is the big challenge.
I agree that integration is the major challenge. I'm looking forward to exploring how to tackle this over the next several months as I start shifting my focus from demonstrating the value of rigorous "deep analysis" towards showing how the analysis process can directly inform the design of agent-based, system dynamics, and network models.
Very nice excursion tour you've been on ... exploring the 1940's era when the processes of making behaviors, choices, and evaluation options ... alert self-awareness 'Reference Frames' themselves. Now it behooves you to appreciate the fuller context which gestated and birthed such intense creativity of "thinking and doing" during those focused years and decades (ca. 1890~1950's ; 1930-40's most intensely).
--- The World Stage was dealing with several co-present "competitions" at the same time: Polity organizations. Economic practices. Private vs Social priorities {everybody deserves noble inclusion -versus- "need to know" only. (!)} Struggles over "who" has decision authority over different parts of the Territories where humans live. Wealth production ~ wealth extraction ~ wealth utilizations. ... Information and Influences involved in Applications .. involved in improving "information and influences". Casual 'speed of social life activities" versus Ramped up activity ('early bird gets the worm" mentality competition).
--- Both major overt competitor groups juggling with these subsets of focus and performance .. the Axis and the Allies ... made different choices on priorities and goals even though handling the same topics to coordinate along the way. --- The Allies .. reacting to "first strike" actions by the Axis .. had to catch up and catch up FAST. Not only respond, but do it swiftly and competently when they were decades behind the curve the Axis groups initiated ca 1920+.
--- It was accomplished ca 1940-43 by bringing all the required components of social organization intensely together and synchronized under a Procedures, Policies, Actions MANDATE GROUP of Academics~Education, Finances, Industrial Production, narrow Rules of Citizens participation, Science tools and skills .. as initially available .. pressed to speedy creativity, improvements and novel implementations (overall: Improved Competence and Power to face and defeat the Axis (and then the Communist Dictatorship movements -- post WWII).
In the United States (fortunate in semi-isolation -- no destructive warring happen in American territories) .. one man was chosen to coordinate the Massive Effort: Vannevar Bush.
I will leave it to you Shingai, and your readership here, to learn about him, his life, and what he did ... as a man -not- in the limelight known by the public at large, but pivotal in designing, orchestrating and behind the scenes conducting of the totality of efforts .. especially the Intense Creativity .. imagined, and then brought to fruition in many fields and areas of human endeavors. They would prove required not only DURING the military & information struggles for survival in the active physical war years, but absolutely foundation setting for everything attended to and to be accomplished, improved, reached for, re-modeled, implemented and expanded .. AFTER that war.
It was subsequent to Bush's hidden design directorship of Allies (America primarily) of "how to win the struggles in all spheres of action" .. that we got .. cybernetics, computers, hyper information networks, NACA -->> NASA, AEC (atomic energy commissions), Fed Govt funding of intense academic research, Cybernetics, national roads network, Coordinated food production, rocketry and then space efforts, Lend-Lease relations with the worlds nations, NATO, United Nations, electrification of the nation, massive telephony connection of the nation, massive implementation of standardized (or close to it) Management Practices across the nation, national resources management and investment choices .. media intensification for commercial advertising and promotion of dedicated economics. .. Media intensification of information and forms of communicating together to not just Creative Arts --- but subliminally ... Social Propaganda aimed at population guiding and control. And not to be underrated or forgotten .. the "unfinished festering" of the 1860's Civil War (which the Union won militarily, but lost socially!) ;; human rights for all citizens :: states rights retained which undermined federal national authority over universal social policies ;; separation of church vs non-clerical social organization .. ethics, morals, rules, judiciary. bigotry over decency. personal liberties and rights and opportunities for all; ...
... anyway ... back on focus:
THE ... SEMINAL WRITING overseeing Rosenblueth and Wiener was openly presented to the American public and the world in 1945 by Vannevar Bush. He wrote "As We May Think" -- as the Allies warring efforts were winding down and a post-war society and situations had to make best use practices of the advances made during the war. The imminent 'peace years' -- needed a single clear enunciation of .... "things to come", of how to re-direct war efforts to peace efforts ... ((altruistically!!)).
It made waves when first published .. and co-distributed more broadly in LIFE Magazine.
But the limelight faded as "daily life" took people's attention, over conceptual considerations of the same things.
I'd be very anxious to read your thoughts and impressions of Bush's prognostications and recommendations, Shingai .. in a "PART II of "Reflections on the Role of Models in Science". And anyone else's here too! ... Jamie 01/31/2025
I like how youʻre taking "a rigorous approach to building an incredibly detailed and elaborate formal description of Bitcoin" using George Mobusʻ model. As you point out, itʻs the first step. Wiener saw systems primarily as feedback loops and he worked with mathematical models. Modeling how a system changes through time (I guess that I should say "simulating" here) is an entirely different project. Algorithms in a computing environment offer all kinds of possibilities. Integration of various types–feedback loops, network/agent-based, etc.–is the big challenge.
I agree that integration is the major challenge. I'm looking forward to exploring how to tackle this over the next several months as I start shifting my focus from demonstrating the value of rigorous "deep analysis" towards showing how the analysis process can directly inform the design of agent-based, system dynamics, and network models.
Very nice excursion tour you've been on ... exploring the 1940's era when the processes of making behaviors, choices, and evaluation options ... alert self-awareness 'Reference Frames' themselves. Now it behooves you to appreciate the fuller context which gestated and birthed such intense creativity of "thinking and doing" during those focused years and decades (ca. 1890~1950's ; 1930-40's most intensely).
--- The World Stage was dealing with several co-present "competitions" at the same time: Polity organizations. Economic practices. Private vs Social priorities {everybody deserves noble inclusion -versus- "need to know" only. (!)} Struggles over "who" has decision authority over different parts of the Territories where humans live. Wealth production ~ wealth extraction ~ wealth utilizations. ... Information and Influences involved in Applications .. involved in improving "information and influences". Casual 'speed of social life activities" versus Ramped up activity ('early bird gets the worm" mentality competition).
--- Both major overt competitor groups juggling with these subsets of focus and performance .. the Axis and the Allies ... made different choices on priorities and goals even though handling the same topics to coordinate along the way. --- The Allies .. reacting to "first strike" actions by the Axis .. had to catch up and catch up FAST. Not only respond, but do it swiftly and competently when they were decades behind the curve the Axis groups initiated ca 1920+.
--- It was accomplished ca 1940-43 by bringing all the required components of social organization intensely together and synchronized under a Procedures, Policies, Actions MANDATE GROUP of Academics~Education, Finances, Industrial Production, narrow Rules of Citizens participation, Science tools and skills .. as initially available .. pressed to speedy creativity, improvements and novel implementations (overall: Improved Competence and Power to face and defeat the Axis (and then the Communist Dictatorship movements -- post WWII).
In the United States (fortunate in semi-isolation -- no destructive warring happen in American territories) .. one man was chosen to coordinate the Massive Effort: Vannevar Bush.
I will leave it to you Shingai, and your readership here, to learn about him, his life, and what he did ... as a man -not- in the limelight known by the public at large, but pivotal in designing, orchestrating and behind the scenes conducting of the totality of efforts .. especially the Intense Creativity .. imagined, and then brought to fruition in many fields and areas of human endeavors. They would prove required not only DURING the military & information struggles for survival in the active physical war years, but absolutely foundation setting for everything attended to and to be accomplished, improved, reached for, re-modeled, implemented and expanded .. AFTER that war.
It was subsequent to Bush's hidden design directorship of Allies (America primarily) of "how to win the struggles in all spheres of action" .. that we got .. cybernetics, computers, hyper information networks, NACA -->> NASA, AEC (atomic energy commissions), Fed Govt funding of intense academic research, Cybernetics, national roads network, Coordinated food production, rocketry and then space efforts, Lend-Lease relations with the worlds nations, NATO, United Nations, electrification of the nation, massive telephony connection of the nation, massive implementation of standardized (or close to it) Management Practices across the nation, national resources management and investment choices .. media intensification for commercial advertising and promotion of dedicated economics. .. Media intensification of information and forms of communicating together to not just Creative Arts --- but subliminally ... Social Propaganda aimed at population guiding and control. And not to be underrated or forgotten .. the "unfinished festering" of the 1860's Civil War (which the Union won militarily, but lost socially!) ;; human rights for all citizens :: states rights retained which undermined federal national authority over universal social policies ;; separation of church vs non-clerical social organization .. ethics, morals, rules, judiciary. bigotry over decency. personal liberties and rights and opportunities for all; ...
... anyway ... back on focus:
THE ... SEMINAL WRITING overseeing Rosenblueth and Wiener was openly presented to the American public and the world in 1945 by Vannevar Bush. He wrote "As We May Think" -- as the Allies warring efforts were winding down and a post-war society and situations had to make best use practices of the advances made during the war. The imminent 'peace years' -- needed a single clear enunciation of .... "things to come", of how to re-direct war efforts to peace efforts ... ((altruistically!!)).
You can read it here: Atlantic Monthly
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/07/as-we-may-think/303881/
It made waves when first published .. and co-distributed more broadly in LIFE Magazine.
But the limelight faded as "daily life" took people's attention, over conceptual considerations of the same things.
I'd be very anxious to read your thoughts and impressions of Bush's prognostications and recommendations, Shingai .. in a "PART II of "Reflections on the Role of Models in Science". And anyone else's here too! ... Jamie 01/31/2025
Thank you for the link to the piece by Vannevar Bush. Part II is in the works!