= | SERVOMECHANISM
s) GED BEGINS SEVERAL YEARS LATER, GE WAKES UP vee perciies SERVOMOTOR
4 2

| NM AND.HAS ADRINK 15 TUNED...
li PILZA.,, HE SWELLS AND BURs TSH MODIFIES MY SANE AND IT IS ANY THING TO CONTROL
= TO EAT Fit BuT IT Is ONLY A DREAM... OF MESCALay 2 i’m affected by the sheen.

servomechanism and servomotor
any of the various control devices
by means of which data
affecting the operation

ofa machine or machines

as in automation

let me act automatically

or install a servomotor

to modify and rectify

typically so i dont change my condition
move me into automat

R. Pandora

The following section, written by Neils Bohr, is offered
for anyone interested in such themes as atomic theory and
systems of knowledge. It is the closing part of his introductory
survey to the book; though on first reading it appears quite
dense, at times somehow unreadable, Bohr eventually makes

1 audience, led to a mystique of “genius.” Like a The merging of the Aesthetic with the Technologic: is point exercising caution in his choice of words. When he

: ‘ ® 2 =f a ° " ss aa ase speaks of “complementarity” he means to say that instead of
scetic Saint Simeon on his pedestal, the Genius in th (ode will gradually suffocate “pure” high art altogethe & Sepguatium iertween.thacobserves and ahmaanee: dee daa

—_ arret was expected to create masterpieces in a vacuun ‘he first breakdown of categories, the remerging of a particular unity, a relation which inevitably affects what one
ut his artery to the outside world had been severe /ith a (technologized) reality, indicate that we are no ?erceives.

fis task, increasingly impossible, often forced him int the transitional pre-revolutionary period, in which th addendum (1931). The fourth article, which is an elabora-
‘eral madness, or suicide. hree separate cultural streams, technology (“‘applied sc tion of a lecture delivered before the Scandinavian Meeting
mce”) - “pure research,” and “pure” modern art, wi of Natural Scientists in 1929, is closely related to the other
Painted into a corner with nowhere else to go, tt elt together—along with the rigid sex categories the three articles, since it attempts to give a survey, against the
F 3 th th ode: effect. — : is 19 Fo same background, of the place of the atomic theory in the
‘tist has got to begin to come to terms wit e m ‘ Fikes { one description of nature. In particular, it was my desire to em-
phasize that, despite the great success attending the discovery
of the building stones of atoms — a discovery depending on
the application of classical concepts — the development of
the atomic theory has, nevertheless, first of all given us a
recognition of laws which cannot be included within the
frame formed by our accustomed modes of perception. As
already indicated above, the lessons we have learned by the
discovery of the quantum of action open up to us new pros-
pects which may perhaps be of decisive importance, parti-
cularly in the discussion of the position of living organisms
in our picture of the world.

If, according to the ordinary usage, we speak of a
machine as dead, this only means that we can give a descrip-
tion, sufficient for our purpose, of its working in terms of
the conceptual forms of classical mechanics. However, in
view of the present recognition of the insufficiency of
classical concepts in the domain of atomic theory this crite-
rion of the inanimate is no longer suitable so far as atomic
phenomena are concerned. Nevertheless, even the quantum
mechanics may hardly depart sufficiently from the mode of
description of classical mechanics to be capable of mastering
the characteristic laws of life. In this connection, however,
we must remember that the investigation of the phenomena
of life not only leads us, as emphasized in the article, into
that domain of atomic theory where the usual idealization of
a sharp distinction between phenomena and their observation
breaks down, but that, in addition, there is set a fundamental
limit to the analysis of the phenomena of life in terms of
physical concepts, since the interference necessitated -by an
observation which would be as complete as possible from the
point of view of the atomic theory would cause the death of
the organism. In other words: the strict application of those
concepts which are adapted to our description of inanimate
nature might stand in a relationship of exclusion to the con-
sideration of the laws of the phenomena of life.

In exactly the same way as it is only possible on the
basis of the fundamental complementarity between the
applicability of the concept of atomic states and the co-
ordination of the atomic particles in space and time to
account, in a rational manner, for the characteristic stability
of the properties of atoms, so might the peculiarity of the
phenomena of life, and in particular the self-stabilizing power
of organisms, be inseparably connected with the fundamental
impossibility of a detailed analysis of the physical conditions
under which life takes place. To put it briefly, one might
perhaps say that quantum mechanics is concerned with the
statistical behaviour of a given number of atoms under well-
defined external conditions, while we are unable to define
the state of a living being in terms of atomic measures; in
fact, owing to the metabolism of the organism, it is not even
possible to ascertain what atoms actually belong to the living
individual. In this respect, the domain of the statistical
quantum mechanics, which is based on the correspondence
argument, occupies an intermediate position between the
domain of applicability of the ideal of causal space-time
mode of description and the domain of biology which is
characterized by teleological arguments.

Although, put in the above way, this idea concerns only
the physical aspect of the problem, it may perhaps also be
suited to form a background for the ordering of the psychical
aspects of life. As explained in the third article, and also
touched upon above, the unavoidable influencing by intro-
spection of all psychical experience, that is characterized by
the feeling of volition, shows a striking similarity to the con-
ditions responsible for the failure of causality in the analysis
of atomic phenomena. Above all, as indicated there, an
essential refinement of our interpretation, originally based on
physical causality, of the psycho-physical parallelism ought
to result from our taking into consideration the unpredict-
able modification of psychical experience produced by any
attempt at an objective tracing of the accompanying physical
processes in the central nervous system. With regard to this,
however, it must not be forgotten that, in associating the
psychical and physical aspects of existence, we are concerned
with a special relationship of complementarity which it is
not possible thoroughly to understand by one-sided applica-
tion either of physical or of psychological laws. In considera-
tion of the general lessons we have learned from the atomic
theory, it would also seem likely that only a renunciation in
this respect will enable us to comprehend, in the sense
explained more fully in the fourth article, that harmony
which is experienced as free will and analyzed in terms of
causality.

reprinted from Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature,
Cambridge University Press, 1934

ED BEGINS
TO EAT PILZA..

1 audience, led to a mystique of “genius.” Like a
veetic Saint Simeon on his pedestal, the Genius
arret was expected to create masterpieces in a vacuun
ut his artery to the outside world had been severec
fis task, increasingly impossible, often forced him int
‘eral madness, or suicide.

Painted into a corner with nowhere else to go, th
sist has got to begin to come to terms with the modes

~ SEVERAL YEARS LATER,
HE SWELLS AND BuRs Tod
BuT IT 1s ONLY A DREAM.-«

th fode will gradually suffocate “pure” high art altogethe

Tas URELELE|
15 TUNED...
agad

DE WAKES UP

AND :HAS A DRINK

OF MESCAL.
GCEA

‘The merging of the Aesthetic with the Technologic:

The first breakdown of categories, the remerging of a
vith a (technologized) reality, indicate that we are no’
1 the transitional pre-revolutionary period, in which th
hee separate cultural streams, technology (“applied se
nce”), “pure research,” and “pure” modern art, wi
felt together—along with the rigid sex categories the

SERVOMECHANISM.
SERVOMOTOR

MODIFIES MY SANE AND IT IS ANY THING TO CONTROL

i'm affected by the sheen
servomechanism and servomotor

any of the various control devices

by means of which data
affecting the operation

‘ofa machine or machines

let me act automatically

or installa servomotor

to modify and rectify,

typically soi dont change my condition
‘move me into automat

R. Pandora

‘The following secion, written by Neils Bok, i offered
{for anyone interesied in such themes ss atomic hear and
‘Systems of bnowiedge {tis the losing part of Msintrodaciory
Survey 10. the Book: though om fst reading appears gute
“dense, at times somehow unreadable, Bohr crentualy makes
his pont exercising caution in his Choice of words. When he
‘peck of complementary he meus fy tha ied of
Bardia int. relaton which neat affect whet one

‘Addendum (1931). The fourth article, which isan elabora:
tion of a lecture delivered before the Scandinavian Meeting
‘of Natural Scientists in 1929, is closely related to the other
three articles, since it attempts to give a survey, against the
same background, of the place of the atomic

Aeseription of nature. In particular, it was my desire to em
phasize that, despite the great success attending the discovery
ofthe building stones of atoms a discovery depending on
the application of clasial concepts — the development of
the atomic theory has, nevertheless, fst of all given us 2
recognition of laws which cannot be Included within the
frame formed by our accustomed modes of perception. As
already indicated above, the lesons we have farmed by the
‘iscovry of the quantum of action open up tous new pros-
ects which may perhaps be of decisive importance, part:
Clary in the discussion of the postion of living organisms
Inoue picture of the word

f, according 10 the ordinary usage, we speak of a
‘machine as dead, this only means that we can give a deserip=
tion, sufficient for our purpose, ofits working in terms of
the conceptual forms of classical mechanics. However,
view of the present recognition of the insufficiency of
‘lasical concepts in the domain of atomic theory this cite:
tion of the inanimate is no Tongersultable #0 far as atomic
Dhenomena are concerned, Nevertheless, even the quantum
‘mechanies may hardly depart sufficiently from the mode of
‘description of classical mechanics to be capable of mastering
the characteristic laws of life. In this connection, however,
‘we must remember that the investigation of the phenomens
Of life not only leads us, as emphasized in the article, into
that domain of atomie theory where the usial dellation of
a sharp distintion between phenomena and their observation
breaks down, but that, In addition, there is set a fundamental
limit to the analysis of the phenomena of life in terms of
physical concepts, since the interference necestated by an
‘observation which would be as complete as possible from the
Point of view of the atomic theory would cause the death of,
the organism. In other words: the strict application of those
concepts which are adapted to our description of inanimate
ature might standin a relationship of exclusion to the con
Sideration ofthe las ofthe phenomena of life,

Tn exactly the same way a5 It Is only possible on the
basis ‘of the fundamental complementarity between the
applicability of the concept of atomic states and the co:
‘ordination ‘of the atomic. particles In space and time to
account, ina rational manner, forthe chaactristie stability
‘Of the properties of atoms, so might the peculiarity of the
‘Phenomena of life, and in particular the sefstabilizing power
‘of organisms, be inseparably connected with the fundamental
Impossibility’ of a detailed analysis of the physieal conditions
tunder which life takes place. To put it briefly, one
Perhaps say that quantum mechanics is concemmed with the
Statistial behaviour of a given numberof atoms under wel:
Getined external conditions, while we are unable to define
the state ofa ving being In terms of atomic measures; in

re domain of the statistical
quantum mechanics, which is based on the correspondence
Srgument, occupies’ an intermediate position between the
domain of applicability of the ideal of causal space-time
‘mode of description and the domain of biolory which Is
Characterized by teleological arguments.

‘Although, put in the above way, this idea concerns only
the physial aspect of the problem, it may pethaps aso be
suited Yo form a background forthe ordering ofthe psychical
pects of life. As explained in the third article, and als
Touched upon above, the unavoidable influencing by int
spection of alps Characterized by
the feeling of vo the con
ditions responsible forthe failure of eauslity in the analysis
‘of atomic. phenomena. Above all, a indicated there, an
‘essential refinement of our interpretation, originally based on
Physical causality, of the psycho-physia! parallelism ousht
fo result from our taking into consideration the unpredict-
able modification of psychical experience produced by any
attempt at an objective tracing of the accompanying physical
Drocesses inthe central nervous system. With regard to this,
however, it must not be forgotten that, in assocating the
psychical and physial aspects of existence, we are concerned
‘vith '2 special relationship of complementarity whieh It
‘ot posible thoroughly to understand by one sided applica
tion either of physical or of psychological laws. In considera.
tion of the general essons we have learned from the atomic

‘would aso seem likey that only 2 renunciation in

Tespect will enable us to. comprehend, In the Sense
fed more fully in the fourth article, that harmony
is experienced as free will and analyzed in terms of

reprinted from Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature,

Cambridge University Press, 1934