In order to excavate something of cybernetics, I look at the notion of stability. Stability is related to the basic cybernetic concept goal. It is shown that every goal must have a goal of its own. It is also shown that the determination that the goal is a goal is observer dependent. By an inversion, it is shown that every stable system must be assumed to have an internal goal of its own. Thus, apparently random behaviour (viewed from the outside) is entirely stable (viewed from the inside). Several ways of handling these potentially difficult concepts are indicated. A codification is given in an appendix.

Key words: behaviour, cybernetic, goal, inversion, observer, stability, steersman, system

The term cybernetics comes from the Greek word for steersman or the helmsman on a ship. Words with the same root mean govern and governor. Norbert Wiener, who first used the term in English, defined it as “control and communication in animal and machine.” The term was subsequently extended to social systems. Numerous other definitions have been proposed. Stafford Beer defined cybernetics as the “science of effective organization.” Gregory Bateson said cybernetics deals with form rather than substance. Gordon Pask defined cybernetics as “the art of manipulating defensible metaphors.” Organization theorists may regard cybernetics as a science of information processing, decision-making, learning, adaptation, and organization, whether these occur in individuals, groups, organizations, nations, or machines.