Epistolution: a new principle necessary to a learning-first theory of life.

Q2 Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Communicative and Integrative Biology Pub Date : 2024-06-10 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI:10.1080/19420889.2024.2366249
Charlie Munford
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Biological theory assumes the organized appearance of life and the reliable recurrence of traits are due to inheritance. Natural selection acting on blind variations produces phenotypes with heritable traits, one of which may be natural learning. The aim of learning, then, is solving problems related to survival and reproduction. But what if these views confuse cause with effect? Perhaps a learning algorithm is required for any phenotype at all to arise. If so, evolution proceeds learning-first, with individuals pursuing another telos entirely. I argue that this aim may be epistemological, the drive to understand the world through an umwelt. By "understand" I mean neither association nor prediction but Karl Popper's concept of explanation through conjecture and refutation. I propose that if only genetic materials are truly heritable, not traits, then testing a successful physical theory of life will depend on building abiotic machines which can perform natural learning without the presence of any inherited materials or conditions. I name this process "epistolution," combining "epistemology" and "evolution," to distinguish it from other concepts. Epistolution is an integral consequence of any learning-first view of life, such as the Cellular Basis of Consciousness theory. This type of theory suggests that in all cells during the history of life full-blown agency, involving beliefs, intentions, and desires, generated all the phenotypes that have then been winnowed by natural selection. Unlike in other versions, I posit that the aim of agential living systems is the explanation of reality rather than inductive prediction or survival/reproduction.

认识演进:学习第一的生命理论所必需的新原则。
生物学理论认为,生命的有序出现和性状的可靠复现是遗传所致。自然选择作用于盲目变异,产生了具有遗传性状的表型,其中之一可能就是自然学习。那么,学习的目的就是解决与生存和繁衍相关的问题。但是,如果这些观点混淆了因果关系呢?也许任何表型的产生都需要一种学习算法。如果是这样,那么进化就会以学习为先,个体追求的完全是另一种目的。我认为,这种目的可能是认识论的,是通过 "世界 "来理解世界的动力。我所说的 "理解 "既不是指联想,也不是指预测,而是指卡尔-波普尔(Karl Popper)通过猜想和反驳进行解释的概念。我提出,如果只有遗传物质而非性状才是真正可遗传的,那么检验一个成功的生命物理学理论将取决于建造非生物机器,这种机器可以在不存在任何遗传物质或条件的情况下进行自然学习。我将这一过程命名为 "认识进化",将 "认识论 "和 "进化论 "结合起来,以区别于其他概念。认识进化是任何 "学习第一 "的生命观(如 "意识的细胞基础 "理论)不可或缺的结果。这类理论认为,在生命的历史进程中,所有细胞中都存在着完整的能动性,包括信念、意图和欲望,这些能动性产生了所有的表型,而这些表型又经过了自然选择的筛选。与其他版本不同的是,我认为代理生命系统的目的是解释现实,而不是归纳预测或生存/再生产。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Communicative and Integrative Biology
Communicative and Integrative Biology Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Agricultural and Biological Sciences (all)
CiteScore
3.50
自引率
0.00%
发文量
22
审稿时长
6 weeks
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