The Latin word that means ‘Emperor’ is imperator. A better English translation of this word is ‘Commander,’ not ‘Emperor’. The word ‘Emperor’ is the Old French equivalent of the Latin imperator. It’s not really an English translation of the Latin.

The translation ‘Commander’ for imperator brings cybernetics to the forefront.

‘Commander’ also highlights the connection with the military. In the Roman Republic, imperator was the title given to a general in command of troops. With Augustus, it became a title.

We might use ‘Emperor’ for convenience, but this translation obscures key cybernetic ideas and is not true to the Latin anyway.

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The Greeks called the Roman Commander autokrator. This word means ‘self-ruler’ or ‘one who rules by himself’.

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