Marcus, And sometimes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This accounts for emergent features from synergistic network coupling. Specifically, if an ANN can recognize a coupling pattern in a network that gives rise to synergistic behavior which is congruent with similar coupling patterns in other networks - it has abstracted a new patterned, second-order rule (meta-rule).
I am not so bold as to state this pattern recognition is the same as "understanding meaning" - only that certain congruent patterns correlate with certain output categories (the determination of which is beyond this post). Ken > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marcus G. Daniels > Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 11:35 PM > To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group > Subject: Re: [FRIAM] The quintessence of complexity thinking > > Ken Lloyd wrote: > > Would it be more interesting to ask - What if in second order ABM's > > the agents could differentiate meta-rules (as patterns) from rules? > > Could they then apply them using evolutionary meta-genetics > as a means > > serving as abstraction? Would this work in n^m-order ABM's? > > > An agent notes the prevailing behaviors and/or wisdom in its > vicinity, and then `abstracts' that? > What makes it an abstraction and not just an imperfect copy? > Sometimes > (often?) the whole is less than the sum of its parts... > Simulations along these lines could address questions like > the impact on a population from meta rules and communication > vs. agents living in ignorant bliss. > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org > ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
