ABSTRACT
Since our main purpose in cybernetics is to model (in a dynamic, purposive and feedback way) aspects of complex systems which occur in reality, this chapter examines a study of model making methods. It focuses on "classical" logic and moves directly to "empirical logic". The bulk of formal logic originated from language and discourse in which inference and entailments were made. The development of powerful symbolic logics did not immediately change their direction, since George Boole (a founder member of modern symbolic logic) thought of Boolean algebra as representing rational human thinking. The chapter discusses formalisation in general, as well as axiomatisation. The importance of formalisation lies in the reverse process from providing a full behavioural context for linguistic behaviour. It argues that a scientific theory is made up of empirical statements which use terms capable of operational definitions, whereas the model uses logical statements, which are not in themselves verifiable.
