Society of Mind

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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.
 
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>== The Society of Mind ==
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== The Society of Mind ==
The Chinese room experiment from John Searle
The Chinese room experiment from John Searle
says that syntax is not the same as semantics: a
says that syntax is not the same as semantics: a
symbol-processing machine like a computer can never
symbol-processing machine like a computer can never
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be properly described as having a "mind" or "understanding",
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be properly described as having a "mind" or "understanding",
regardless of how intelligently it may behave. The
regardless of how intelligently it may behave. The
poor guy in the Chinese room can translate perfectly
poor guy in the Chinese room can translate perfectly
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over time to do this. George Lakoff said:
over time to do this. George Lakoff said:
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: "When you start to study the brain and body scientifically, you inevitably wind up using metaphors. Metaphors for the mind, as you say, have evolved over time -- from machines to switchboards to computers." [http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/lakoff/lakoff_p2.html George Lakoff]
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: "When you start to study the brain and body scientifically, you inevitably wind up using metaphors. Metaphors for the mind, as you say, have evolved over time -- from machines to switchboards to computers." [http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/lakoff/lakoff_p2.html George Lakoff]
Curiously the brain always seems to be one of the most advanced technologies  
Curiously the brain always seems to be one of the most advanced technologies  
that we humans currently have, as Rodney Brooks argues:
that we humans currently have, as Rodney Brooks argues:
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: "If we look back over recent centuries we will see the brain described as a hydrodynamic machine, clockwork, and as a steam engine. When I was a child in the 1950's I read that the human brain was a telephone switching network. Later it became a digital computer, and then a massively parallel digital computer. A few years ago someone put up their hand after a talk I had given at the University of Utah and asked a question I had been waiting for for a couple of years: 'Isn't the human brain just like the world wide web?' The brain always seems to be one of the most advanced technologies that we humans currently have." - [http://www.edge.org/q2008/q08_5.html Rodney A. Brooks]
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: "If we look back over recent centuries we will see the brain described as a hydrodynamic machine, clockwork, and as a steam engine. When I was a child in the 1950's I read that the human brain was a telephone switching network. Later it became a digital computer, and then a massively parallel digital computer. A few years ago someone put up their hand after a talk I had given at the University of Utah and asked a question I had been waiting for for a couple of years: 'Isn't the human brain just like the world wide web?' The brain always seems to be one of the most advanced technologies that we humans currently have." - [http://www.edge.org/q2008/q08_5.html Rodney A. Brooks]
In the '''mind-as-machine''' metaphor the mind is a  
In the '''mind-as-machine''' metaphor the mind is a  
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of human cognition - thoughts and memories - is  
of human cognition - thoughts and memories - is  
kept, broadly restrained but locally elusive.  
kept, broadly restrained but locally elusive.  
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And since Marvin Minsky's "Society of Mind" we know that
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And since Marvin Minsky's "Society of Mind" we know that
a society of agents - the '''mind-as-society''' metaphor -  
a society of agents - the '''mind-as-society''' metaphor -  
is probably a better model for human
is probably a better model for human
intelligence. In his book, he tries to explain how
intelligence. In his book, he tries to explain how
minds are built from mindless stuff, which he names
minds are built from mindless stuff, which he names
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"agents". Steven Pinker says about it in "How the
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"agents". Steven Pinker says about it in "How the
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mind works" (on page 144) "The society of mind is a  
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mind works" (on page 144) "The society of mind is a  
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wonderful metaphor" and continues (on page 419)
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wonderful metaphor" and continues (on page 419)
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"Mental life often feels like a parliament within".
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"Mental life often feels like a parliament within".
So what happens if we replace the guy in the Chinese  
So what happens if we replace the guy in the Chinese  
room by the population of a whole country or nation?
room by the population of a whole country or nation?
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Steven Pinker asks in 'How the Mind Works' (p.146):
Steven Pinker asks in 'How the Mind Works' (p.146):
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: "What if we took [a brain simulation computer] program and trained a large number of people, say, the population of China, to hold in mind the data and act out the steps? Would there be one gigantic consciousness hovering over China, separate from the consciousness of the billion individuals? If they were implementing the brain state for agonizing pain, would there be some entity that really was in pain, even if every citizen was cheerful and light-hearted?"
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: "What if we took [a brain simulation computer] program and trained a large number of people, say, the population of China, to hold in mind the data and act out the steps? Would there be one gigantic consciousness hovering over China, separate from the consciousness of the billion individuals? If they were implementing the brain state for agonizing pain, would there be some entity that really was in pain, even if every citizen was cheerful and light-hearted?"
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== Is there a president somewhere ? ==
== Is there a president somewhere ? ==
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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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== What happens when agents become aware of themselves ? ==
== What happens when agents become aware of themselves ? ==
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According to the french sociologist Émile Durkheim,
 
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the term [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_consciousness collective consciousness]
 
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in societies refers to the shared beliefs and moral attitudes which operate
 
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as a unifying force within society. In former times,
 
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Religion played an important role in uniting members through
 
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the creation of a common consciousness, just as the belief in the
 
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own self plays an important role in building a consistent
 
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single personality. The belief in a god is not that
 
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different from a belief in an own [[Self|self]].
 
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In a normal society, the media play an important role
 
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in shaping the collective consciousness. The content
 
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of the major newspapers, journals and TV stations determine
 
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what the majority of people is aware of. In a sense,
 
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they produce and construct the common collective
 
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consciousness of the society. The shared consumption
 
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leads to shared beliefs and attitudes. If there are
 
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continuously reports in the media that someone is evil
 
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or that the society is in a crisis, then the members of
 
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the society will eventually believe that the person is
 
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evil and that they are in a crisis.
 
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Today, Twitter is like a global stream of consciousness.
 
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Twitter and Facebook capture what people are doing (and
 
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thinking) right now. Taken collectively, the stream of messages
 
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in both platforms provides insights into the digital mood,
 
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the collective consciousness, and the zeitgeist
 
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("the spirit of the age").
 
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? Do we have a spirit of
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represent and recognize itself? And
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China "hovering over the room" in this case?
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what happens when agents become aware of themselves ?
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A real life situation where a common consciousness arises
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An interesting question. See [[Collective consciousness|collective consciousness]].
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is for example a national world cup game in stadium,
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or a divine service. The spirit of the group is in
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fact "hovering" over the place in both cases. The
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participants are confused by feedback illusions:
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if all participants act synchronously, then it is
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difficult to distinguish between the actions of
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the group and the actions of the individual. An
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individual thinks it has suddenly the power of the
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whole group.
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How would a recognition or representation of itself look like?
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May you can describe it like this: when agents become  
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aware of themselves, suddenly a small group of agents
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(which represent the self) becomes very famous, and make
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connections to nearly everyone else. In the above situation,
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these agents may be comparable to the team on the field, or
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the leaders of the religious group. A huge confusion arises
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in the population which agents should be activated: everyone
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since the agents represent everyone, and nobody since they
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are just one team among many others.
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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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