On the roles of function and selection in evolving systems

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(43)

Published: Oct. 16, 2023

Physical laws—such as the laws of motion, gravity, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics—codify general behavior varied macroscopic natural systems across space time. We propose that an additional, hitherto-unarticulated law is required to characterize familiar phenomena our complex, evolving universe. An important feature classical physics conceptual equivalence specific characteristics shared by extensive, seemingly diverse body phenomena. Identifying potential equivalencies among disparate phenomena—for example, falling apples orbiting moons or hot objects compressed springs—has been instrumental in advancing scientific understanding world through articulation nature. A pervasive wonder evolution systems, including stars, minerals, atmospheres, life. These appear be conceptually equivalent they display three notable attributes: 1) They form from numerous components have adopt combinatorially vast numbers different configurations; 2) processes exist generate 3) configurations are preferentially selected based on function. identify universal concepts selection—static persistence, dynamic novelty generation—that underpin function drive evolve exchange information between environment system. Accordingly, we a “law increasing functional information”: The system will increase (i.e., evolve) if many undergo selection for one more functions.

Language: Английский

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Cellular sentience as the primary source of biological order and evolution

Biosystems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 218, P. 104694 - 104694

Published: May 18, 2022

Language: Английский

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Designing ecosystems of intelligence from first principles

Collective Intelligence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

This white paper lays out a vision of research and development in the field artificial intelligence for next decade (and beyond). Its denouement is cyber-physical ecosystem natural synthetic sense-making, which humans are integral participants—what we call “shared intelligence.” premised on active inference, formulation adaptive behavior that can be read as physics intelligence, inherits from self-organization. In this context, understand capacity to accumulate evidence generative model one’s sensed world—also known self-evidencing. Formally, corresponds maximizing (Bayesian) evidence, via belief updating over several scales, is, learning, selection. Operationally, self-evidencing realized (variational) message passing or propagation factor graph. Crucially, inference foregrounds an existential imperative intelligent systems; namely, curiosity resolution uncertainty. same underwrites sharing ensembles agents, certain aspects (i.e., factors) each agent’s world provide common ground frame reference. Active plays foundational role ecology sharing—leading formal account collective rests shared narratives goals. We also consider kinds communication protocols must developed enable such intelligences motivate hyper-spatial modeling language transaction protocol, first—and key—step towards ecology.

Language: Английский

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A Critical Review of Teaching and Learning Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy: Developing an Intelligence-based AI Literacy Framework for Primary School Education

Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100319 - 100319

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Life, its origin, and its distribution: a perspective from the Conway-Kochen Theorem and the Free Energy Principle

Communicative & Integrative Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(1)

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

We argue here that the Origin of Life (OOL) problem is not just a chemistry but also, and primarily, cognitive science problem. When interpreted through lens Conway-Kochen theorem Free Energy Principle, contemporary physics characterizes all complex dynamical systems persist time as Bayesian agents. If persistent are to some – perhaps only minimal extent cognitive, alive, or living subset systems? no bright line can be drawn, we re-assess, from this perspective, Fermi paradox Drake equation. conclude improving our abilities recognize communicate with diverse intelligences in embodiments, whether based on familiar biochemistry not, will either resolve obviate OOL

Language: Английский

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The Sentient Cell

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 5, 2023

Abstract This volume is the natural follow-up to Arthur Reber’s 2019 book, The First Minds: Caterpillars, ‘Karyotes, and Consciousness (TFM). In that earlier work, Cellular Basis of (CBC) theory was developed based on a number efforts published in variety journals between 1997 as well talks, colloquia, presentations at conferences. core proposition TFM life mind are co-terminous. All organisms, all species extant extinct, sentient. have an existentially secure consciousness—without which they would been evolutionary dead-ends, unable survive chaotic, dangerous environment first appeared. And, importantly, forms sentience, cognitive functioning right up including those expressed by humans, evolved from original expression consciousness birth prokaryotes. unicellular widely accepted, foundational principle biological social sciences. CBC simply applies same sentience.

Language: Английский

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Asymptotic burnout and homeostatic awakening: a possible solution to the Fermi paradox?

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(190)

Published: May 1, 2022

Previous studies show that city metrics having to do with growth, productivity and overall energy consumption scale superlinearly, attributing this the social nature of cities. Superlinear scaling results in crises called 'singularities', where population demand tend infinity a finite amount time, which must be avoided by ever more frequent 'resets' or innovations postpone system's collapse. Here, we place emergence cities planetary civilizations context major evolutionary transitions. With perspective, hypothesize once civilization transitions into state can described as one virtually connected global city, it will face an 'asymptotic burnout', ultimate crisis singularity-interval time becomes smaller than innovation. If develops capability understand its own trajectory, have window affect fundamental change prioritize long-term homeostasis well-being over unyielding growth-a consciously induced trajectory 'homeostatic awakening'. We propose new resolution Fermi paradox: either collapse from burnout redirect themselves prioritizing homeostasis, cosmic expansion is no longer goal, making them difficult detect remotely.

Language: Английский

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Searching for Life, Mindful of Lyfe’s Possibilities

Life, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(6), P. 783 - 783

Published: May 25, 2022

We are embarking on a new age of astrobiology, one in which numerous interplanetary missions and telescopes will be designed, built, launched with the explicit goal finding evidence for life beyond Earth. Such profound aim warrants caution responsibility when interpreting disseminating results. Scientists must take care not to overstate (or over-imply) confidence detection is lacking, or only incremental advances have been made. Recently, there has call community create standards reporting biosignatures. In this perspective, we wish highlight critical but often understated element discussion biosignatures: Life studies deeply entwined rely upon our (often preconceived) notions what is, origins life, habitability. Where biosignatures concerned, these three highly related questions frequently relegated low priority, assumed already solved irrelevant question detection. Therefore, bring fore how other major astrobiological frontiers central searching elsewhere encourage astrobiologists embrace reality that all science interrelated furthered

Language: Английский

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Cells as the first data scientists

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(199)

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

The concepts that we generally associate with the field of data science are strikingly descriptive way life, in general, processes information about its environment. ‘information life cycle’, which enumerates stages treatment endeavours, also captures steps collection and handling biological systems. Similarly, ‘data–information–knowledge ecosystem’, developed to illuminate role informatics translating raw into knowledge, can be a framework for understanding how is constantly being transferred between By placing principles broader context, see activities scientists as latest development life's ongoing journey better understand predict Finally, propose frameworks used similarities differences abiotic complex evolving systems life.

Language: Английский

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The meanings of the Critical Zone

Anthropocene, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 42, P. 100377 - 100377

Published: March 16, 2023

Language: Английский

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