Society of Mind

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(→What happens when agents become aware of themselves ?)
 
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This page is about the question how the various
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phenomena of mind emerge from the interactions of many mindless
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agents. The term '''Society of Mind''' has been coined by
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Marvin Minsky. Bateson's idea of an [[Ecology of Mind]] and
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Minsky's idea of a "Society of Mind" have much in common.
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Both are similar because they try to describe a whole system of
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interacting entities - species for ecology and agents for society.
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Although [[Self-Consciousness|consciousness]] is complicated and confusing,  
Although [[Self-Consciousness|consciousness]] is complicated and confusing,  
it is like pain/displeasure and joy/pleasure an [[Emergence|emergent]]
it is like pain/displeasure and joy/pleasure an [[Emergence|emergent]]
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violin solo, or relish an incredible meal.", see [http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/jun08/6278],
violin solo, or relish an incredible meal.", see [http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/jun08/6278],
but the general phenomena are maybe very simple.
but the general phenomena are maybe very simple.
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At least we can try to model consciousness, pleasure/joy, displeasure/pain,
 
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humor, insights and other emergent phenomena with agent-based systems or
 
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multi-agent systems. This page is about the question how the various
 
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phenomena of mind emerge from the interactions of many mindless
 
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agents.
 
== The Society of Mind ==
== The Society of Mind ==
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== Are there any friends, families or social networks ? ==
== Are there any friends, families or social networks ? ==
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Yes, there are. And they are important.
Daniel C. Dennett writes in his book "Brainchildren -  
Daniel C. Dennett writes in his book "Brainchildren -  
Essays on Designing Minds", (Penguin Press Science, 1998)
Essays on Designing Minds", (Penguin Press Science, 1998)
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The 'society of mind' metaphor becomes interesting if we  
The 'society of mind' metaphor becomes interesting if we  
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consider the social networks inside the society. The value  
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consider the [[Social_network|social networks]] inside the society. The value  
of the human mind lies in its vast network which connects  
of the human mind lies in its vast network which connects  
the individual agents. To illustrate this point, Marvin  
the individual agents. To illustrate this point, Marvin  
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Friendships exist if there are any analogies and  
Friendships exist if there are any analogies and  
metaphors (see below).
metaphors (see below).
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The social network as a whole is of fundamental importance,
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because it offers a solution to the [[Hard problem of consciousness|hard problem of consciousness]]:
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'''the social network of the mind determines the kind of subjective experience.'''
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Everyone has a uniqe “society of mind”, and a unique social network.
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Each of us is adapted to a slightly different world (or different “slice”
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of the same world). Already William James said
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: "The peculiarity of our experiences, that they not only are, but are known, which their ’conscious’ quality is invoked to explain, is better explained by their relations – these relations themselves being experiences – to one another."
== Who decides which agent is active? ==
== Who decides which agent is active? ==
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[[Image:sink_for_flow.png|left|thumb|300px|Sink for neural flow]]
[[Image:sink_for_flow.png|left|thumb|300px|Sink for neural flow]]
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The basic idea is simple. Agreement is good, disagreement is bad.
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Agreement among the agents in the society of mind is associated with
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pleasure. '''Pleasure''' is a state of physical integrity and
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effortless '''action readiness''' of the body. The body signals
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that it is ready for work, that there are no obstacles or objections
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for action. It is reflected by an internally consistent representation
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(no contradictions, consonance, agreement). On the contrary,
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'''pain''' is a state characterized by '''violation of the physical integrity'''
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of the body. The body signals that some actions should be
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avoided, or that it is tired and depleted. This state is
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reflected by an internally inconsistent representation
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(contradictions, dissonance, disagreement).
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This model means that physical integrity of the body is
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connected to the "mental integrity" of the mind.
In general, conflicts between agents are bad, while consensus is good.
In general, conflicts between agents are bad, while consensus is good.
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They represent a situation of [[Cognitive dissonance|cognitive dissonance]].
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Conflicts represent a situation of [[Cognitive dissonance|cognitive dissonance]].
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Conflicts are unpleasant for the mind, society or population,
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They are unpleasant for the mind, society or population,
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because it means tiresome deactivation of agents.
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because it means tiresome inhibition or deactivation of  
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Contradictions between agents, for example  
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agents. Contradictions between agents, for example  
an incongruity in meaning, lead to confusion  
an incongruity in meaning, lead to confusion  
and displeasure. The mind must activate more agents,
and displeasure. The mind must activate more agents,
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To put it in more abstract terms, displeasure arises  
To put it in more abstract terms, displeasure arises  
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from a drain for the neural information flow: activity
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from a drain for the neural [[Flow|information flow]]: activity
is decreased, agents are deactivated or lost. In the  
is decreased, agents are deactivated or lost. In the  
terms of nonlinear dynamics, graph and chaos theory, pain  
terms of nonlinear dynamics, graph and chaos theory, pain  
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[[Image:source_for_flow.png|left|thumb|300px|Source for neural flow]]
[[Image:source_for_flow.png|left|thumb|300px|Source for neural flow]]
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Pleasure is associated with a 'Source' of neural flow, for  
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Pleasure is associated with a 'Source' of neural [[Flow|information flow]], for  
example the unexpected perception of a desired object which  
example the unexpected perception of a desired object which  
triggers an action to enhance the perception of the object.  
triggers an action to enhance the perception of the object.  
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If the population is large and complex enough, can it  
If the population is large and complex enough, can it  
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represent and recognize itself? See [[Collective consciousness|collective consciousness]].
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represent and recognize itself? And
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what happens when agents become aware of themselves ?
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An interesting question. See [[Collective consciousness|collective consciousness]].
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Consciousness is like a whirl or turbulence in the neural
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Consciousness of the self or self-awareness is like a whirl or turbulence  
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information flow: it is characterized by heavy discussions
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in the neural information flow: it is characterized by heavy discussions
with few results among *all* agents. [[Self-Consciousness|Self-consciousness]]  
with few results among *all* agents. [[Self-Consciousness|Self-consciousness]]  
is like the feeling of being strong because you have climbed a huge
is like the feeling of being strong because you have climbed a huge
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* Marcus Tullius Cicero, [http://www.epicurus.net/en/finibus.html De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum]
* Marcus Tullius Cicero, [http://www.epicurus.net/en/finibus.html De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum]
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[[Category:Complex Systems]]
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[[Category:Social Systems]]
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[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Consciousness]]
[[Category:Consciousness]]

Latest revision as of 08:49, 1 May 2011

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