An actuator is the mechanism by which a control system acts upon an environment. The control system can be simple (a fixed mechanical or electronic system), software-based (e.g. a printer driver, robot control system), a human, or any other input.
Nomos or Nomoi may refer to: from the Greek term for law (Î½ÏÎ¼Î¿Ï, nÃ³mos; pl. Î½ÏÎ¼Î¿Î¹, nÃ³moi). It is the origin of the suffix -onomy, as in astronomy, economy, or taxonomy.
Nomothetic is based on what Kant described as a tendency to generalize, and is typical for the natural sciences. It describes the effort to derive laws that explain objective phenomena in general. Idiographic is based on what Kant described as a tendency to specify, and is typical for the humanities. It describes the effort to understand the meaning of contingent, unique, and often subjective phenomena.