International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

E. MORIN writes: "SCHRODINGER, in "What is Life?" stated that ordered events could be produced out of two basic principles, the first one "order from order" (algorithmic), the second "order from disorder" (statistical), from which two types of laws are derived, dynamic laws and statistical ones. Von FOERSTER, in 1959, advanced a third principle, which cannot be confused with the first ones, even if it depends on them: "Order from noise" (von FOERSTER 1960, p.31-50). It is a selective principle, according to which noise-events contribute to increase order in complex systems…

"Von Foerster says that "self organizing systems do not feed only in order, they find also noise in their menu." (1960) This Foersterian principle is different from SCHRÖDINGER 's disorder, which is, statistically, order. But the Foersterian principle, as well emphasized by G. GÜNTHER (1962), establishes the synthesis: the "Aufhebung" (overtaking) of order-from-order and of order-from-disorder is mechanicist, "order- from-disorder is regularity, order-from noise is novelty, or creativity" (MORIN, 1972, p.185).

This notion, however, should be received with caution.

R. VALLÉE writes: "… one should not forget that, when noise generates order, it is because it has been introduced in a structure otherwise (and already previously) ordered magnets shaked in a box in von FOERSTER's example, or more simply wheat ears creeping upward in a sleeve under the influence of erratic movements. In von FOERSTER's example, order exist within the highly structured magnetic interactions among the magnets; in the case of the ears it surges from their very dissymmetric structure. Noise does not create order, but it is an excellent structure displayer. If order can be thus generated by noise, it is by means of an already existing structure, possibly not very evident, or under the influence of constraints, at times quite unobstrusive. Noise, nonetheless, plays a very important role as a trigger for the emergence of order in what is called self-organization or autopoiesis of a system "(1990, p.55).

Mac KAY states this in a different, but equivalent manner: "In fact, the badly phrased question: "Is noise information?" examplifies well the need for semantic hygiene in the field. The question is incomplete. If translated "Has noise selective power?" it invites the immediate rejoinder "On what ensamble?" To specify the ensamble then removes all the ambiguity and obviates empty debate" (1969, p.134).

Finally, it seems that the principle of order from noise may mainly explain the increase of order which results of the fusion or synthesis of similar or complementary elements in an associative process which leads to the emergence of entities of a superior order of complexity. It could be the most basic motor of evolution.