Archive image from page 84 of Design for a brain; the. Design for a brain; the origin of adaptive behavior . designforbrainor00ashb Year: 1960 CHAPTER 6 Parameters 6/1. So far, we have discussed the changes shown by the vari- ables of a state-determined system, and have ignored the fact that all its changes occur on a background, or on a foundation, of constancies. Thus, a particular simple pendulum provides two variables which are known (S. 2/15) to be such that, if we are given a particular state of the system, we can predict correctly its ensuing behaviour ; what has not been stated explic
Archive image from page 84 of Design for a brain; the. Design for a brain; the origin of adaptive behavior . designforbrainor00ashb Year: 1960 CHAPTER 6 Parameters 6/1. So far, we have discussed the changes shown by the vari- ables of a state-determined system, and have ignored the fact that all its changes occur on a background, or on a foundation, of constancies. Thus, a particular simple pendulum provides two variables which are known (S. 2/15) to be such that, if we are given a particular state of the system, we can predict correctly its ensuing behaviour ; what has not been stated explicitly is that this is true only if the length of the' string remains constant. The background, and these constancies, must now be considered. Every system is formed by selecting some variables out of the totality of possible variables. ' Forming a system ' means dividing the variables of the universe into two classes: those within the system and those without. These two types of variable are in no way different in their intrinsic physical nature, but they stand in very different relations to the system. 6/2. Given a system, a variable not included in it is a parameter. The word variable will, from now on, be reserved for one within the system. In general, given a system, the parameters will differ in their closeness of relation to it. Some will have a direct relation to it : change of their value would affect the system to a major degree; such is the parameter ' length of pendulum ' in its relation to the two-variable system of the previous section. Some are less closely related to it, their changes producing only a slight effect on it; such is the parameter 4 viscosity of the air ' in relation to the same system. And finally, for completeness, may be mentioned the infinite number of parameters that are without detectable effect on the system; such are the brightness of the light shining on the pendulum, the events in an adjacent room, and the events in the distant nebulae. Thos
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