Abstract
I define a new measure of complexity called functional logical depth and apply the measure to specify the levels of description at which, for the purposes of creating artificial life, it may be most appropriate to simulate the temporal evolution of classes of real living organisms. According to the approach outlined here, when the functional logical depth of particular information transforming relationships in such a simulation is minimised, the more complex transforms which typify life appear from the simpler relationships as emergent properties. I situate this view within a context of computational convenience and evolutionary plausibility and discuss implications for developing genetic algorithms and for evaluating various arguments about levels of description in living systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bennett, C.H.: Information, dissipation, and the definition of organization. In Emerging Syntheses in Science, ed. David Pines. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley. (1987)
Bennett, C.H.: How to define complexity in physics, and why. In Complexity, Entropy, and the Physics of Information, SFI Studies in the Sciences of Complexity VIII, ed. Wojciech H. Zurek, 137–148. Redwood City, California: Addison-Wesley. (1990)
Browne, A., Pilkington, J.: Variable binding in a neural network using a distributed representation. In European Symposium on Artificial Neural Networks 1994. ed. Michel Verleysen, 199–204. Brussels: D facto. (1994)
Chalmers, D.J.: Syntactic transformations on distributed representations. Connection science 2 (1990) 53–62.
Changeux, J.-P., Danchin, A.: Selective stabilization of developing synapses as a mechanism for the specification of neuronal networks. Nature 264 (1976) 705–711.
Changeux, J.-P., Heidmann, T, Patte, P.: Learning by selection. In The Biology of Learning, ed. P. Marler and H.S. Terrace, 115–137. New York: Springer-Verlag. (1984)
Chrisman, L.: Learning recursive distributed representation for holistic computation. Connection science 3 (1991) 345–365.
Deutsch, D.: Quantum theory, the Church-Turing principle and the universal quantum computer. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A400 (1985) 97–117.
Fodor, J.A., McLaughlin, B.P.: Connectionism and the problem of systematicity: Why Smolensky's solution did not work. Cognition 35 (1990) 183–204.
Fodor, J.A., Pylyshyn, Z.: Connectionism and cognitive architecture: A critical analysis. Cognition 28 (1988) 3–71.
Horgan, T., Tienson, J. (1993) Levels of description in nonclassical cognitive science. PHILOSOPHY 34, Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement, 159–188.
Horgan, T., Tienson, J.: A nonclassical framework for cognitive science. Synthese: special issue on connectionism and philosophy of mind, ed. A. Clark (to appear)
Marr, D.: Vision. New York: Freeman. (1982)
Mulhauser, G.R.: Chaotic dynamics and introspectively transparent brain processes. Presented 4 July 1993 at the Second Annual Conference of the European Society for Philosophy and Psychology in Sheffield, England. (1993)
Mulhauser, G.R.: Computability in chaotic analogue systems. Presented 21 July 1993 at the International Congress on Computer Systems and Applied Mathematics in St. Petersburg, Russia. (1993)
Mulhauser, G.R.: Cognitive transitions and the strange attractor: A reply to Peter Smith. Presented 7 September 1993 at the Fifth Joint Council Initiative Summer School in Cognitive Science and Human Computer Interaction in Edinburgh, Scotland. (1993)
Mulhauser, G.R.: Biologically plausible hybrid network design and motor control. In European Symposium on Artificial Neural Networks 1994, ed. Michel Verleysen, 79–84. Brussels: D facto. (1994)
Mulhauser, G.R.: Mind Out of Matter: Topics in the Physical Foundations of Consciousness and Cognition. Typescript, University of Glasgow. (1994)
Searle, J.: Minds, brains and programs. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 3 (1980) 417–457.
Sharkey, N.E.: The ghost of the hybrid: A study of uniquely connectionist representations. Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour Quarterly 79 (1992) 10–16.
Smith, P.: Chaos: Explanation, Prediction & Randomness. Unpublished manuscript of Easter Term 1993 Cambridge Department of Philosophy lecture series. (also to appear from Cambridge University Press)
Smolensky, P.: Tensor product variable binding and the representation of symbolic structures in connectionist systems. Artificial Intelligence 46 (1990) 159–216.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Mulhauser, G.R. (1995). To simulate or not to simulate: A problem of minimising functional logical depth. In: Morán, F., Moreno, A., Merelo, J.J., Chacón, P. (eds) Advances in Artificial Life. ECAL 1995. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 929. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-59496-5_323
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-59496-5_323
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-59496-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49286-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive