Activity Quote by Norbert Wiener
“The mechanical brain does not secrete thought "as the liver does bile," as the earlier materialists claimed, nor does it put it out in the form of energy, as the muscle puts out its activity. Information is information, not matter or energy. No materialism which does not admit this can survive at the present day.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine, 1948
Thought is distinct from physical substances; information cannot be reduced to matter or energy, challenging materialist views.
In simple terms: Thought isn’t matter.
Key Takeaway
Recognize information as a separate entity.
Themes
philosophy
science
information theory
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- AI research
- philosophical debate
- education
- public policy
Key Concepts
materialism
information
cybernetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing information as non‑material affect AI ethics?
- Can science fully explain consciousness without materialism?
A Different Perspective
Materialist frameworks still dominate many scientific narratives.
