Society of Mind
From CasGroup
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| + | This page is about the question how the various | ||
| + | phenomena of mind emerge from the interactions of many mindless | ||
| + | agents. The term '''Society of Mind''' has been coined by | ||
| + | Marvin Minsky. Bateson's idea of an [[Ecology of Mind]] and | ||
| + | Minsky's idea of a "Society of Mind" have much in common. | ||
| + | Both are similar because they try to describe a whole system of | ||
| + | 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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== 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 ? == | ||
| + | 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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metaphors (see below). | metaphors (see below). | ||
| - | The social network as a whole is of fundamental importance: | + | The social network as a whole is of fundamental importance, |
| + | because it offers a solution to the [[Hard problem of consciousness|hard problem of consciousness]]: | ||
'''the social network of the mind determines the kind of subjective experience.''' | '''the social network of the mind determines the kind of subjective experience.''' | ||
Everyone has a uniqe “society of mind”, and a unique social network. | Everyone has a uniqe “society of mind”, and a unique social network. | ||
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of the same world). Already William James said | of the same world). Already William James said | ||
| - | : 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. | + | : "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]] | ||
| + | The basic idea is simple. Agreement is good, disagreement is bad. | ||
| + | Agreement among the agents in the society of mind is associated with | ||
| + | pleasure. '''Pleasure''' is a state of physical integrity and | ||
| + | effortless '''action readiness''' of the body. The body signals | ||
| + | that it is ready for work, that there are no obstacles or objections | ||
| + | for action. It is reflected by an internally consistent representation | ||
| + | (no contradictions, consonance, agreement). On the contrary, | ||
| + | '''pain''' is a state characterized by '''violation of the physical integrity''' | ||
| + | of the body. The body signals that some actions should be | ||
| + | avoided, or that it is tired and depleted. This state is | ||
| + | reflected by an internally inconsistent representation | ||
| + | (contradictions, dissonance, disagreement). | ||
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| + | This model means that physical integrity of the body is | ||
| + | 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. | ||
| - | + | Conflicts represent a situation of [[Cognitive dissonance|cognitive dissonance]]. | |
| - | + | They are unpleasant for the mind, society or population, | |
| - | because it means tiresome deactivation of agents. | + | because it means tiresome inhibition or deactivation of |
| - | Contradictions between agents, for example | + | 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 | ||
| - | from a drain for the neural information flow: activity | + | 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]] | ||
| - | Pleasure is associated with a 'Source' of neural flow, for | + | 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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* 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] | ||
| + | [[Category:Complex Systems]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Social Systems]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Psychology]] | ||
[[Category:Consciousness]] | [[Category:Consciousness]] | ||
