Reduction, Emergence and the Metaphysics in Science

Published: Feb. 18, 2025

Language: Английский

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Extended spider cognition

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 20(3), P. 375 - 395

Published: Feb. 7, 2017

There is a tension between the conception of cognition as central nervous system (CNS) process and view extending towards body or contiguous environment. The centralised requires large complex systems to cope with environments. Conversely, extended involves outsourcing information processing environment, thus making fewer demands on power CNS. evolution should be particularly favoured among small, generalist predators such spiders, here, we review literature evaluate fit empirical data these contrasting models cognition. Spiders do not seem cognitively limited, displaying diversity learning processes, from habituation contextual learning, including sense numerosity. To tease apart cognition, apply mutual manipulability criterion, testing existence reciprocal causal links putative elements system. We conclude that web threads configurations are integral parts cognitive systems. extension helps explain some puzzling features spider behaviour seems promote evolvability within group, enhancing innovation through connectivity variable habitat features. Graded changes in relative brain size could also explained by environmental More generally, niche-constructed structures emerge prime candidates for animal generating selective pressures help shape evolving

Language: Английский

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Biological regulation: controlling the system from within

Biology & Philosophy, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 31(2), P. 237 - 265

Published: Aug. 5, 2015

Language: Английский

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What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter

Published: Jan. 4, 2019

The biological functions debate is a perennial topic in the philosophy of science. In first full-length account nature and importance for many years, Justin Garson presents an innovative new theory, 'generalized selected effects theory function', which seamlessly integrates evolutionary developmental perspectives on functions. He develops implications contemporary debates mind, medicine psychiatry, biology, biology itself, addressing issues ranging from mental representation to our understanding function human genome. Clear, jargon-free, engagingly written, with accessible examples explanatory diagrams illustrate discussion, his book will be highly valuable readers across philosophical scientific disciplines.

Language: Английский

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Rethinking Causality in Biological and Neural Mechanisms: Constraints and Control

Minds and Machines, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 28(2), P. 287 - 310

Published: Feb. 1, 2018

Language: Английский

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Natural Agency: The Case of Bacterial Cognition

Journal of the American Philosophical Association, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 3(1), P. 69 - 90

Published: Jan. 1, 2017

ABSTRACT: I contrast an ecological account of natural agency with the traditional Cartesian conception using recent research in bacterial cognition and cellular decision making as a test case. argue that conception—namely, view presupposes cognition—generates dilemma between mechanism, bacteria are mere automata, intellectualism, they exhibit full-blown cognition. Unicellular organisms, however, occupy middle ground these two extremes. On one hand, their capacities activities too adaptive to count machines. other lack open-ended responsiveness cognitive agents rational norms. An gross behavioral capacity respond affordances, argue, does not presuppose allows for degrees along continuum, from simplest agents, such unicellular most sophisticated agents. Bacteria, conclude, , hence but

Language: Английский

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First principles in the life sciences: the free-energy principle, organicism, and mechanism

Synthese, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 198(S14), P. 3463 - 3488

Published: Sept. 10, 2018

Abstract The free-energy principle states that all systems minimize their free energy resist a tendency to physical disintegration. Originally proposed account for perception, learning, and action, the has been applied evolution, development, morphology, anatomy function of brain, called postulate , an unfalsifiable natural law imperative . While it might afford theoretical foundation understanding relationship between environment, life, mind, its epistemic status is unclear. Also unclear how relates prominent approaches life science phenomena, such as organicism mechanism. This paper clarifies both issues, identifies limits prospects first in sciences.

Language: Английский

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Grounding cognition: heterarchical control mechanisms in biology

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 376(1820), P. 20190751 - 20190751

Published: Jan. 25, 2021

We advance an account that grounds cognition, specifically decision-making, in activity all organisms as autonomous systems must perform to keep themselves viable—controlling their production mechanisms. Production mechanisms, we characterize them, activities such procuring resources from environment, putting these use construct and repair the organism's body moving through environment. Given variable nature of environment continual degradation organism, mechanisms be regulated by control select when a is required how it should carried out. To operate on need procure information measurement processes evaluate possible actions. They are making decisions. In organisms, decisions made multiple different organized not hierarchically but heterarchically. many cases, they employ internal models features with which organism deal. Cognition, form thus fundamental living This article part theme issue ‘Basal cognition: conceptual tools view single cell’.

Language: Английский

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How Organisms Come to Know the World: Fundamental Limits on Artificial General Intelligence

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Jan. 28, 2022

Artificial intelligence has made tremendous advances since its inception about seventy years ago. Self-driving cars, programs beating experts at complex games, and smart robots capable of assisting people that need care are just some among the successful examples machine intelligence. This kind progress might entice us to envision a society populated by autonomous performing same tasks humans do in near future. prospect seems limited only power complexity current computational devices, which is improving fast. However, there several significant obstacles on this path. General involves situational reasoning, taking perspectives, choosing goals, an ability deal with ambiguous information. We observe all these characteristics connected identifying exploiting new affordances—opportunities (or impediments) path agent achieve goals. A general example affordance use object hands agent. show it impossible predefine list such uses. Therefore, they cannot be treated algorithmically. means “AI agents” organisms differ their leverage affordances. Only can this. implies true AGI not achievable algorithmic frame AI research. It also important consequences for theory evolution. argue organismic agency strictly required truly open-ended evolution through radical emergence. discuss diverse ramifications argument, research evolution, but philosophy science.

Language: Английский

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Philosophy of Neuroscience

Published: Feb. 8, 2022

This Element provides a comprehensive introduction to philosophy of neuroscience. It covers such topics as how neuroscientists procure knowledge, including not just research techniques but the use various model organisms. presents examples knowledge acquired in neuroscience that are then employed discuss more philosophical nature explanations developed neuroscience, different conception levels discussions and invocation representations explanations. The text emphasizes importance brain processes beyond those neocortex explores what makes processing different. consider view nervous system consists control mechanisms considers arguments for hierarchical vs. heterarchical organization mechanisms. concludes by considering implications findings humans conceive themselves practices embracing norms.

Language: Английский

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