Josh, According to that font of undisputed truth, Wikipedia, the general definition of a holon is:
A holon is a system <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System> (or phenomenon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomenon> ) that is a whole in itself as well as a part of a larger system. It can be conceived as systems nested within each other. Every system can be considered a holon, from a subatomic particle <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subatomic_particle> to the universe <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universe> as a whole. On a non-physical level, words, ideas, sounds, emotionseverything that can be identifiedis simultaneously part of something, and can be viewed as having parts of its own. Since a holon is embedded in larger wholes, it is influenced by and influences these larger wholes. And since a holon also contains subsystems, or parts, it is similarly influenced by and influences these parts. Information flows bidirectionally between smaller and larger systems. (end of quote) A pattern in a compositional hierarchy used in recognition or for behavior, as in Hawkingss hiearchical memory or in Serres work would appear to meet this quoted definition. I higher level model is normally matched when its lower level elements are matched. I higher level behavior is only enacted with its lower level behaviors are enacted. Strong evidence of occurrence for a higher level pattern spreads inference to its lower level elements. I higher level model derives meaning from its lower level elements and vice versa. So I think if Wikipedia is to be trusted, it seems my use of holonic was correct. With regard to conflict resolutlion, yes there will often be cases where evidence coming up from lower levels will conflect with that coming down from higher levels, but it will often be the case that such evidence will agree. In effect resulting in something roughly like the relaxation algorithm described in Robert Hecht-Nielsen's confabulation papers, which show a ripling, thresholded probabilistic relaxation process between nodes at different hierarchical levels.. Edward W. Porter Porter & Associates 24 String Bridge S12 Exeter, NH 03833 (617) 494-1722 Fax (617) 494-1822 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: J Storrs Hall, PhD [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 8:54 AM To: agi@v2.listbox.com Subject: Re: [agi] "symbol grounding" Q&A Remember that Eliezer is using "holonic" to describe *conflict resolution* in the interpretation process. The reason it fits Koestler's usage is that it uses *both* information about the parts that make up a possible entity and the larger entities it might be part of. Suppose we see the sentence "The cut sut on the mut", written in longhand. We would rapidly come to understand that the writer didn't close his "a"s and that the sentence had to do with domestic felines. An essential part of this process would be resolving the conflict between the different possible interpretations of the letters and the words. "Holonic" neatly captures this process by emphasizing that the entities being disambiguated are both made up of parts and are themselves parts of larger entities. Is that a fair exegesis, Eliezer? Josh On Wednesday 17 October 2007 06:43:52 pm, Edward W. Porter wrote: > JOSH, > > I KNEW SERRES SYSTEM WAS ONLY FEED FORWARD, AND ONLY DEALS WITH > CERTAIN ASPECTS OF VISION, BUT I THINK IT HAS AMAZINGLY IMPRESSIVE > PERFORMANCE FOR SUCH A RELATIVELY SIMPLE SYSTEM, AND A LOT OF IT IS > AUTOMATICALLY LEARNED. > > IS IT HOLONIC? > > IT DEFINITELY DOESNT JUST DIVIDE VISUAL STATE SPACE UP INTO THE > EQUIVALENT OF THE BLINDLY SELECTED SUBSPACES. IT LEARNS PATTERNS, AND > PATTERNS OF PATTERNS, AND GENERALIZATIONS OF PATTERNS. AND WHAT IT > LEARNS, ARE, AS I REMEMBER IT, PATTERNS THAT SOMEHOW USEFULLY DIVIDE > VISUAL EXPERIENCE AT THE LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY REPRESENTED BY THAT LEVEL > OF PATTERN. SO THE PATTERNS BEGIN TO REPRESENT USEFUL SHAPES, AND > PATTERNS OF SUCH SHAPES. > > SO I THINK IT IS SOMEWHAT ANALOGOUS TO DIVIDING UP A BODY INTO UNITS > BASED ON THE COHERENT ROLES THEY PLAY IN A HIERARCHY OF SUCH PATTERNS, > RATHER THAN JUST SOME ARBITRARY PATTERN THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF WHAT IS > HAPPENING ABOVE OR BELOW IT. ----- This list is sponsored by AGIRI: http://www.agiri.org/email To unsubscribe or change your options, please go to: http://v2.listbox.com/member/?&; ----- This list is sponsored by AGIRI: http://www.agiri.org/email To unsubscribe or change your options, please go to: http://v2.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=54910010-f1a449
