Newsgroups: bit.listserv.csg-l
Date:         Fri, 28 Aug 1992 18:51:00 GMT
From:         Hortideas Publishing <0004972767@MCIMAIL.COM>
Subject:      A General Theory of Manipulation
X-To:         CSGnet <CSG-L@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu>

From Greg Williams (920828 - 2)

>Bill Powers replying on "influence" (920828)

OK, Bill, I could counter your lurid family-relations examples showing the
ineffectuality of influence with lurid con-game and advertising examples
showing the effectuality of influence, but what's the use? Instead, why not
join with me in constructing a general treatment of manipulation from the
point of view of PCT -- a general treatment which will show the scope and
limits of manipulation? Here's a start. The axioms are supposed to arise from
orthodox PCT.

PROLEGOMENON TO A GENERAL THEORY OF MANIPULATION

Definition 1. Control is acting so as to maintain a match between reference
signals and perceptual signals in the face of disturbances which tend to alter
the perceptual signals.

Axiom 1. Comparing reference signals and perceptual signals occurs ONLY within
organisms, including humans.

Axiom 2. Given current and forseeable technology, other persons CANNOT directly
("causally") alter a given person's current structure of reference signals.

Axiom 3. Other persons CAN, in general, directly ("causally") generate
disturbances which alter a given person's current perceptual signals.

Lemma 1. A person can ONLY control his/her own actions, not others. In
particular, other persons cannot control a given person's actions. (By Def. 1
and Axioms 1-3.)

Definition 2. Influence is one person's controlling his/her actions so as to
alter another person's perceptual signals.

Lemma 2. Influence is possible. (By Def. 1 and Axiom 3.)

Definition 2. Manipulation is a given person's (the influencer's) altering of
another person's (the influencee's) current perceptual signals so as to affect
the influencee's current control processes in such a way that the influencee
acts so as to enable matching of certain reference signals and perceptual
signals of the influencer (that is, to enable certain control processes of the
influencer).

Lemma 3. Manipulation is possible. (By Defs. 1 and 2 and Axioms 1, 2, and 3.)

Axiom 4. Information about the influencee's current control structure (that
is, structure of reference signals) cannot be obtained directly, given current
and forseeable technology, but can be obtained indirectly, by the Test for the
Controlled Variable.

Axiom 5. Successful manipulation as set forth in Def. 2 would require
information about the influencee's current control structure so as to avoid
conflicts within the control structure and to assure consonance between the
current control processes and acts of the influencee which enable control
processes of the influencer.

Theorem. By Lemma 3 and Axioms 4 and 5, the chances of successful manipulation
are enhanced IF the influencer performs the Test.

This would be extended in a full treatment to mapping out how and why
manipulation has limits, the possible manipulation of others' FUTURE control
structures by altering their PRESENT perceptual signals, and so forth. Are you
game?

Greg
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU