Abstract

A natural system is an anticipatory system if it contains an internal predictive model of itself and its environment, and in accordance with the model’s predictions, antecedent actions are taken. An organism is the very example of an anticipatory system. Deep system-theoretic homologies allow the possibility of obtaining insights into anticipatory processes in the human and social sciences from the understanding of biological anticipation. To this end, a comprehensive theory of anticipatory systems is the means. The present chapter is an exposition on the mathematical foundations of such a theory.