The Algebra of Cosmic Intelligence: Inhumanism and Cosmology in the Reflexive Neocybernetics of Vladimir Lefebvre

Russian Studies in Philosophy. 2022. Vol. 60. No. 3. P. 205–230.

Maksim D. Miroshnichenko

The paper reconstructs the conception of the Soviet-American psychologist Vladimir Lefebvre as part of the neocybernetic movement. In particular, I propose to consider such components of his research of the 70s-90s as systemic vision, reflexive analysis, search for a holistic configuration, and Janus-cosmology as realizations of neocybernetics. Lefebvre's interest in the reflexive structures of cognition and action led him to consider the limitations of the scientific image of the world. The conflicting objects studied by him turned out to be too complex for behavioral modeling and prognostics. For this reason, Lefebvre expanded the boundaries of his formal theory of mind, relying on functionalist positions, which led him to the science fiction narrative of the "Big Correction." I claim that Lefebvre's works offer not only the original Soviet version of neocybernetics of the 70s, but also develop their version of inhumanism, long before it appeared on the stage of recent philosophy. Lefebvre's formal theory, supported by thermodynamics and elements of Russian cosmism, embeds cognitive behavior into the teleology of Big Correction associated with the idea of overcoming the heat death of the Universe. The activity of the cosmic reason, which Lefebvre identifies with magnetic-plasmatic structures in the distant parts of the Universe, is aimed at cooperation and prolongation of the existence of life and intelligence.

Keywords: рефлексия, entropy, энтропия, функционализм, reflection, functionalism, космизм, Lefebvre, neocybernetics, неокибернетика, ингуманизм, inhumanism, cosmism, В. Лефевр

Publication based on the results of: Genealogies of “algorithmic rationality” in the late USSR: from cybernetic utopia to information society (2022)