Abstract

These remarks deal with the attempt of G. Klaus to establish a theory of knowledge by combining basic ideas of cybernetics and information theory with the position of dialectical materialism. Klaus underlines the materialistic approach and the importance of science, rather than Hegelian dialectics. Irrespective of the ideological issues, the following of Klaus' suggestions are debatable: The connection between brain structure and logical reasoning. Treating information and information processing as basic notions, although this does not account for the capacity of the human mind to inquire into any object whatever. Regarding the evolution of mankind as a selection process, determined by the way in which signals from the environment are selected and elaborated. Explaining creative thinking by the trial and error method. Giving a naturalistic derivation of the goals and optimation criteria of the cybernetic system 'man' exclusively from its relation to environment