Jay Forrester

Jay Forrester (1918–2016) was an American engineer and systems theorist whose work shaped both technology and global modelling. At MIT, he invented magnetic core memory, a breakthrough that powered early computers. Later, he pioneered system dynamics, using computer simulations to understand complex systems like corporations, cities, economies, and ecosystems. His World Dynamics and Limits to Growth models translated planetary challenges into dynamic feedback loops, echoing the principles behind Lovelock’s Daisyworld—showing how life, technology, and environment co-adapt within fragile balances. Forrester’s vision fused engineering precision with a deep concern for the sustainability of interconnected systems.

Forrester’s engagement with cybernetics, particularly through his work on servomechanisms during World War II, laid the groundwork for his later developments in system dynamics. This foundation emphasized the importance of feedback loops and control systems in understanding complex behaviors. In his 1968 work Principles of Systems, Forrester noted, “In concept a feedback system is a closed system. Its dynamic behavior arises within its internal structure.” This perspective highlights the intricate balance between organic continuity and mechanical processes. While mechanical systems operate based on predefined rules and structures, organic systems exhibit adaptability and self-regulation. Forrester’s models sought to bridge this gap, illustrating how mechanical processes, when designed with feedback and adaptability in mind, can emulate the resilience and complexity of organic #systems.