Evolution of Evolution of Complex Complex SystemsSystems

Lecture 7: Society and its reproductionLecture 7: Society and its reproduction

Peter Andras / Bruce CharltonPeter Andras / Bruce Charlton

peter.andras@ncl.ac.ukpeter.andras@ncl.ac.uk

bruce.charlton@ncl.ac.ukbruce.charlton@ncl.ac.uk

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ObjectivesObjectives

Multi-organism systemsMulti-organism systems Human communicationsHuman communications Human societyHuman society Human artefacts and writingHuman artefacts and writing Education systemEducation system The system of religionThe system of religion The system of scienceThe system of science Identity violation and adaptationIdentity violation and adaptation

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OrganismsOrganisms

Multi-cellular systems made up of Multi-cellular systems made up of inter-cellular communicationsinter-cellular communications

Subsystems of specialist Subsystems of specialist communications: tissuescommunications: tissues

E.g., muscle tissue, nervous E.g., muscle tissue, nervous systemsystem

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Organism actions and Organism actions and perceptionsperceptions

Actions: sequence of patterns of inter-Actions: sequence of patterns of inter-cellular communicationscellular communications

E.g., limb movementE.g., limb movement Perception: environmental actions on Perception: environmental actions on

cells that are part of the organism, cells that are part of the organism, changing their communications, and changing their communications, and changing in this way the pattern of changing in this way the pattern of communications within the organismcommunications within the organism

E.g., perception of light by E.g., perception of light by photoreceptorsphotoreceptors

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Inter-organism Inter-organism communicationscommunications

Organism actions on the environmentOrganism actions on the environment The changes in the environment are The changes in the environment are

perceived by another organism perceived by another organism through environment induced through environment induced changes in its own communicationschanges in its own communications

E.g., sound emission, transmission E.g., sound emission, transmission and receptionand reception

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Referencing in inter-organism Referencing in inter-organism communicationscommunications

Each communication action / Each communication action / behaviour is determined by earlier behaviour is determined by earlier communication behaviours, which communication behaviours, which are selected to be referenced by are selected to be referenced by the current communication the current communication behaviourbehaviour

E.g., courtship or fighting E.g., courtship or fighting behaviour in animalsbehaviour in animals

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Multi-organism systems – Multi-organism systems – 1 1

Organisms act as communication units by Organisms act as communication units by performing communication behavioursperforming communication behaviours

The communications are frequent and The communications are frequent and generate a dense communication cluster generate a dense communication cluster surrounded by rare communications with surrounded by rare communications with other organism communication unitsother organism communication units

E.g., a community of dogs, which E.g., a community of dogs, which communicate more frequently with other communicate more frequently with other dogs than with other animalsdogs than with other animals

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Multi-organism systems – Multi-organism systems – 22

Small systems: courtship, fighting, Small systems: courtship, fighting, offspring raisingoffspring raising

Large systems: ant and bee Large systems: ant and bee colonies, human societycolonies, human society

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Human individualsHuman individuals

Organism with many subsystemOrganism with many subsystem Has information subsystem – Has information subsystem –

nervous systemnervous system Has information subsystem of the Has information subsystem of the

nervous system – memorynervous system – memory Long-term memory and mind Long-term memory and mind

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Mind and languageMind and language

Mind = information subsystem of Mind = information subsystem of the nervous system, generated by the nervous system, generated by the double contingency of ‘who am the double contingency of ‘who am I’I’

Language of mind: discussing Language of mind: discussing about itself – ‘who am I’about itself – ‘who am I’

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Subsystems of the nervous Subsystems of the nervous systemsystem

Visual, auditory, motor, etc. Visual, auditory, motor, etc. subsystemssubsystems

Information subsystem: memory Information subsystem: memory processing – associative processing – associative subsystemssubsystems

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Language subsystemsLanguage subsystems

Language understanding Language understanding subsystem: Wernicke areasubsystem: Wernicke area

Language behaviour production Language behaviour production subsystem: Broca area (speech subsystem: Broca area (speech production)production)

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Behavioural languageBehavioural language

Animals: courtship, fighting, body Animals: courtship, fighting, body language, vocalisationlanguage, vocalisation

Humans: facial gestures, body Humans: facial gestures, body language, vocalisation, speechlanguage, vocalisation, speech

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Behavioural societyBehavioural society

System of behavioural System of behavioural communications between animalscommunications between animals

E.g., ants, bees, monkeys, dogsE.g., ants, bees, monkeys, dogs

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Memories of behavioursMemories of behaviours

Human language – long-term memoryHuman language – long-term memory Memories of behaviours Memories of behaviours long-term long-term

memory memory communications about long- communications about long-term memories term memories human language human language

Memories of behavioural Memories of behavioural communications communications communications communications between such memoriesbetween such memories

System of verbal inter-human System of verbal inter-human communicationscommunications

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Human communications – Human communications – 1 1

Words: sequences of phonemesWords: sequences of phonemes Sentences: sequences of wordsSentences: sequences of words Communications: set of sentencesCommunications: set of sentences

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Human communications – Human communications – 22

Rules of phoneme Rules of phoneme consecutiveness: very sharp consecutiveness: very sharp conditional distributionsconditional distributions

Rules of word consecutiveness: Rules of word consecutiveness: grammar of the languagegrammar of the language

Rules of large scale Rules of large scale communications: semantic rules of communications: semantic rules of referencing between sentencesreferencing between sentences

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The system of human The system of human communicationscommunications

Human communications Human communications referencing other human referencing other human communicationscommunications

Dense cluster of communications Dense cluster of communications with rare communications around with rare communications around (e.g., communications with a dog)(e.g., communications with a dog)

Society = system of human Society = system of human communicationscommunications

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Actions of the societyActions of the society

Sequence of human Sequence of human communications that induce communications that induce actions of humans (communication actions of humans (communication units) on the environmentunits) on the environment

E.g., calling closer another human E.g., calling closer another human or executing a scientific or executing a scientific experimentexperiment

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Perceptions of the societyPerceptions of the society

Environment induced changes in Environment induced changes in communication units (humans) communication units (humans) induce human communicationsinduce human communications

Such communications may differ Such communications may differ from the most expected ones from the most expected ones conveying perceptions for the conveying perceptions for the society systemsociety system

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Meaningful Meaningful communicationscommunications

Reference other human Reference other human communications and are communications and are referenced by others following the referenced by others following the continuation rules of human continuation rules of human communicationscommunications

Contribute to the reproduction / Contribute to the reproduction / maintenance and expansion of the maintenance and expansion of the society systemsociety system

E.g., gossipingE.g., gossiping

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Meaningless Meaningless communicationscommunications

Communications that lead to Communications that lead to communications that cannot be referencedcommunications that cannot be referenced

Such communications are about Such communications are about paradoxes, i.e. case when it is impossible paradoxes, i.e. case when it is impossible to decide whether the communication is to decide whether the communication is correct or not according to the rules of correct or not according to the rules of communicationscommunications

The correctness refers to the semantic The correctness refers to the semantic correctness not to the grammar or word correctness not to the grammar or word phoneme order (these are very sharply phoneme order (these are very sharply defined)defined)

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Faults, errors and failuresFaults, errors and failures Faulty communication: ‘ratulleps’, ‘cat the ate big Faulty communication: ‘ratulleps’, ‘cat the ate big

the mouse’, ‘she was blonde with blue eyes, so it the mouse’, ‘she was blonde with blue eyes, so it was running around the table, and the cherries was running around the table, and the cherries were really ripe’ – senseless communicationswere really ripe’ – senseless communications

Error: the politician makes his big speech and the Error: the politician makes his big speech and the people leave quietly the room, without people leave quietly the room, without responding or commenting on his speech – responding or commenting on his speech – communications are correct and follow the rules, communications are correct and follow the rules, but they don’t have the expected continuationbut they don’t have the expected continuation

Failure: lack of reliable communications lead to Failure: lack of reliable communications lead to weak performance and falling apart of the weak performance and falling apart of the companycompany

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Memory – human Memory – human memoriesmemories

Records of human communications Records of human communications Reproduction of earlier verbal Reproduction of earlier verbal

communicationscommunications E.g., re-told stories about heroes, E.g., re-told stories about heroes,

rituals, customsrituals, customs

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Memory – human artefactsMemory – human artefacts Human communications (including behaviours) Human communications (including behaviours)

lead to the production of human artefactslead to the production of human artefacts E.g. arrow, pot, clothes, painting, sculpture, earringE.g. arrow, pot, clothes, painting, sculpture, earring Production of such artefacts needs the Production of such artefacts needs the

reproduction of human behaviours leading to them reproduction of human behaviours leading to them – they facilitate the reproduction of these – they facilitate the reproduction of these behavioursbehaviours

Human artefacts also facilitate the reproduction of Human artefacts also facilitate the reproduction of a range of other human behaviours and a range of other human behaviours and communications related to their usecommunications related to their use

Such artefacts can be considered as forms of Such artefacts can be considered as forms of human society memorieshuman society memories

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WritingWriting

Counting of artefacts – core of human Counting of artefacts – core of human memories about human artefactsmemories about human artefacts

Counting Counting Writing – accounting in Writing – accounting in early human societiesearly human societies

Writing produces records of human Writing produces records of human communications (including behaviours)communications (including behaviours)

Writing can facilitate the reproduction Writing can facilitate the reproduction of memorized communicationsof memorized communications

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Information subsystemInformation subsystem

Processing of memories about Processing of memories about human communicationshuman communications

Information subsystem of the Information subsystem of the society: human communications society: human communications about the identity of the social about the identity of the social systemsystem

Rely on human memories, human Rely on human memories, human artefacts, and in particular on artefacts, and in particular on written textwritten text

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IdentityIdentity

The identity of social systems is The identity of social systems is defined by their information defined by their information subsystemsubsystem

Identity: which rituals are correct and Identity: which rituals are correct and which are incorrect, which forms and which are incorrect, which forms and reports are in the right format, who is reports are in the right format, who is human who is not (see barbarians)human who is not (see barbarians)

E.g. tribes, companies, groups of E.g. tribes, companies, groups of friendsfriends

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Reproduction of the Reproduction of the societysociety

Generation of new communications Generation of new communications that fit into the society systemthat fit into the society system

Acquiring new communication Acquiring new communication units: reproduction of human units: reproduction of human organisms, attracting new humans organisms, attracting new humans to participate in the system of to participate in the system of societysociety

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Many societiesMany societies

A society is defined by its A society is defined by its communications that are built using communications that are built using the society’s languagethe society’s language

Each human language defines a Each human language defines a societysociety

Societies may compete for Societies may compete for communication unitscommunication units

E.g., multi-ethnic societiesE.g., multi-ethnic societies

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Subsystems of societiesSubsystems of societies

Specialized human communications Specialized human communications dealing with some part of the societydealing with some part of the society

Subsystems have an apparent Subsystems have an apparent function within the system of societyfunction within the system of society

E.g., political system – power E.g., political system – power distribution, science system – distribution, science system – scientific knowledge productionscientific knowledge production

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EducationEducation

Providing the communication rule Providing the communication rule knowledge to humansknowledge to humans

SocialisationSocialisation E.g., schools, family educationE.g., schools, family education

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Family educationFamily education

Basic socialisation: kids learn a Basic socialisation: kids learn a language, its use and related language, its use and related behavioursbehaviours

Part of education, especially in Part of education, especially in early human societiesearly human societies

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SchoolsSchools

Systematic education of kids about Systematic education of kids about advanced knowledge that they advanced knowledge that they refer to in their life, while deriving refer to in their life, while deriving their communicationstheir communications

E.g., teaching math, physics, E.g., teaching math, physics, biologybiology

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The reproduction The reproduction subsystemsubsystem

Education deals with reproduction of Education deals with reproduction of communications that provide the communications that provide the foundation for the future expansion of foundation for the future expansion of the society communicationsthe society communications

Education forms a subsystem of the Education forms a subsystem of the society that deals with the reproduction society that deals with the reproduction of common knowledgeof common knowledge

Common knowledge: usually referred by Common knowledge: usually referred by many human communications within many human communications within the societythe society

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Un-common knowledgeUn-common knowledge

Society communications may lead to Society communications may lead to paradoxes in semantic termsparadoxes in semantic terms

E.g., fire for early societies which didn’t E.g., fire for early societies which didn’t know the use of fireknow the use of fire

Dealing with such problems is essential Dealing with such problems is essential to eliminate their damaging effectto eliminate their damaging effect

The un-common knowledge deals with The un-common knowledge deals with such problemssuch problems

E.g., the gods bring the fireE.g., the gods bring the fire

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ReligionReligion

The religion contains the un-The religion contains the un-common knowledgecommon knowledge

It provides explanations of It provides explanations of common knowledge paradoxes common knowledge paradoxes fitting these into the system of fitting these into the system of societysociety

The religion is a specialist The religion is a specialist subsystem of the society, dealing subsystem of the society, dealing with the un-common knowledgewith the un-common knowledge

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Scientific knowledgeScientific knowledge

Communications that can be Communications that can be referred in the society system, of referred in the society system, of which correctness (i.e., whether which correctness (i.e., whether they are part or not of the society) they are part or not of the society) is verified experimentallyis verified experimentally

Experimental check: action, Experimental check: action, predicted perception, checked predicted perception, checked predictionprediction

E.g., physics, chemistryE.g., physics, chemistry

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Scientific, common, and un-Scientific, common, and un-common knowledgecommon knowledge

A good part of science is not part A good part of science is not part of common knowledgeof common knowledge

Science competes with the system Science competes with the system of un-common knowledgeof un-common knowledge

A part of science is integrated into A part of science is integrated into common knowledge by expansion common knowledge by expansion of the education system (see of the education system (see universities)universities)

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The language of scienceThe language of science

Reduced human language with Reduced human language with more specific rules, with sharper more specific rules, with sharper continuation distributionscontinuation distributions

The communications are about The communications are about whether a communications can be whether a communications can be proven to be correct or not by some proven to be correct or not by some experimental validation or by experimental validation or by referring to proven communicationsreferring to proven communications

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Actions and perceptions of Actions and perceptions of sciencescience

Actions: experimental check or set Actions: experimental check or set of references to earlier proven of references to earlier proven communicationscommunications

Perceptions: communications Perceptions: communications generated after the execution of generated after the execution of the experiment or references that the experiment or references that trigger new scientific trigger new scientific communicationscommunications

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Meaningful and Meaningful and meaninglessmeaningless

Meaningful: something that fits Meaningful: something that fits into the experimentally validatable into the experimentally validatable / falsifiable context/ falsifiable context

Meaningless: communications that Meaningless: communications that lead to invalid or experimentally lead to invalid or experimentally un-checkable communications – un-checkable communications – faulty science communicationsfaulty science communications

E.g., religious communicationsE.g., religious communications

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Errors and failures in Errors and failures in sciencescience

Error: Lysenko’s genetics – Error: Lysenko’s genetics – followed general rules of science, followed general rules of science, but it was based on wrong but it was based on wrong premises and had no continuationpremises and had no continuation

Failure: alchemy – based on wrong Failure: alchemy – based on wrong premises, using wrong rulespremises, using wrong rules

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Adaptation in scienceAdaptation in science

Identity: scientific communications can Identity: scientific communications can be validated experimentally or by be validated experimentally or by logical reasoning – anything that logical reasoning – anything that doesn’t fit this is not part of sciencedoesn’t fit this is not part of science

Identity violations Identity violations adaptation adaptation E.g. relativity theory, quantum theory, E.g. relativity theory, quantum theory,

importance of non-coding RNAs, object importance of non-coding RNAs, object oriented theory of computer programsoriented theory of computer programs

Kuhn: revolutionary and standard Kuhn: revolutionary and standard sciencescience

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Education, religion and Education, religion and sciencescience

Education Education religion, education religion, education science, religion science, religion science science

Education communications also Education communications also reference science (mostly) and reference science (mostly) and religious (to much less extent) religious (to much less extent) communications – religion and communications – religion and science influence the education science influence the education systemsystem

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Identity and identity violation Identity and identity violation in the education systemin the education system

Identity: education communications are Identity: education communications are those which lead to the reproduction of those which lead to the reproduction of human memories required for human memories required for production of social communications production of social communications that reproduce and expand the societythat reproduce and expand the society

Identity violations – depend on social Identity violations – depend on social context: induction of within-society context: induction of within-society hatred, education about irrelevant hatred, education about irrelevant knowledge like leninism, education knowledge like leninism, education about the uselessness and about the uselessness and unimportance of education – see unimportance of education – see cultural revolution in China cultural revolution in China

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Adaptation in the education Adaptation in the education systemsystem

New forms of education in response to lack of New forms of education in response to lack of expected large volume continuation of expected large volume continuation of communications – e.g. trade schools, communications – e.g. trade schools, generalised elementary education, formal generalised elementary education, formal graduate schoolsgraduate schools

Review of educational textbooks in response to Review of educational textbooks in response to changes in science – e.g. biology – recently, changes in science – e.g. biology – recently, physics – in the pastphysics – in the past

Reorganisation of university departments in Reorganisation of university departments in response to failure of them to attract students, response to failure of them to attract students, who are required for the reproduction of who are required for the reproduction of education system communications – e.g. education system communications – e.g. physics, chemistry and philosophy departmentsphysics, chemistry and philosophy departments

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Summary – 1 Summary – 1

Multi-organism systemsMulti-organism systems Humans: nervous system, brain, mindHumans: nervous system, brain, mind Human communications and languageHuman communications and language Society = system of human Society = system of human

communicationscommunications Information subsystem and identityInformation subsystem and identity

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Summary – 2 Summary – 2

Education – reproduction Education – reproduction subsystem of common knowledgesubsystem of common knowledge

Religion – the subsystem of Religion – the subsystem of uncommon knowledgeuncommon knowledge

Science – the subsystem of Science – the subsystem of scientific knowledgescientific knowledge

Identity violations and adaptationIdentity violations and adaptation

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Q&A – 1 Q&A – 1

1.1. Is it true that a limb movement can be Is it true that a limb movement can be considered as a sequence of considered as a sequence of communication patterns between the communication patterns between the cells of an organism ?cells of an organism ?

2.2. Is it true that hunting a prey is a set of Is it true that hunting a prey is a set of communications that constitute a communications that constitute a communication system ?communication system ?

3.3. Is it true that the communications Is it true that the communications between ants constitute the ant between ants constitute the ant society/colony system ?society/colony system ?

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Q&A – 2 Q&A – 2

4. Is it true that the humans communicate 4. Is it true that the humans communicate within themselves about their own identity within themselves about their own identity forming the system of the mind ?forming the system of the mind ?

5. Is it true that there is no specialized brain 5. Is it true that there is no specialized brain area for production of human speech ?area for production of human speech ?

6. Is it true that human language 6. Is it true that human language communications constitute the human communications constitute the human society ?society ?

7. Is it true that the communications between 7. Is it true that the communications between a human and its dog is part of the society ?a human and its dog is part of the society ?

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Q&A – 3 Q&A – 3

8. Is it true that education deals with the 8. Is it true that education deals with the reproduction of communications making reproduction of communications making up the un-common knowledge ?up the un-common knowledge ?

9. Is it true that religious communications 9. Is it true that religious communications are meaningless in the system of are meaningless in the system of science ?science ?

10. Is it true that the actions of science are 10. Is it true that the actions of science are sequences of human communications sequences of human communications resulting in scientific experiments ?resulting in scientific experiments ?