Oswald Wieners Theorie des Denkens

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Oswald Wiener (1935—2021), originally an artist turned researcher, emphasized a unique approach in his thought psychology: rather than seeking a synthesis of self-observation and automata theory, he advocated for a juxtaposition. He explored how the relationships identified through self-observation could be interpreted as realizations within formal systems like automata theory, and conversely, how well these models capture essential aspects of human thought. This book features three conversations with Wiener on historical theory development and four essays that further his underappreciated approach to thought theory. Central to these discussions is Wiener's significant essay, "Kybernetik und Gespenster." The collected essays illuminate Wiener's intellectual landscape, particularly in the context of the intersection between science and art. His insights are increasingly relevant amid contemporary debates on Artificial Intelligence, which often suffer from a disconnect between engineers and humanities scholars. While engineers focus on practical algorithms and scholars on political opinions, Wiener stands out as a true intellectual, examining the phenomenology of AI to address profound questions about mind, meaning, and reality construction.