A (Cybernetic) Musing: Control, Variety and Addiction

Medicine is a science of control and should, therefore, be a subject that is particularly open to cybernetic investigation and enlightenment, for cybernetics is concerned with control and communication. Yet, in previous columns, I have reported cases that originate in the cybernetic literature and with the grand old men (yes, I'm afraid, men) of cybernetics, who have discussed systems that are in essence uncontrollable.