BRAIN METAPHOR
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 332 ▶ |
| Object type | Epistemology, ontology or semantics |
As the hypercomplex system that it is, the brain is not yet fully understood. This is probably why it has been extensely used as a metaphor for different concepts of regulating and deciding devices. The hierarchical brain metaphor extols the brain as the all powerful chief controller and commander, who should know and decide about everything.
Another and newer metaphor is the brain as a learning and adaptable network of elements. This seems to be a more adequate analogy, but the unifying and regulating powers of networks should not be forgotten. It is quite possible that future research into brain physiology could lead us to a still different metaphor or analogy, not necessarily incompatible with the existing ones.
Our metaphors should not blind us to some other important facts, as for instance the necessary connections of the brain (and other learning-regulating-deciding devices) with other critical subsystems and their significance.