From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!trwacs!erwin Mon Aug 24 15:41:40 EDT 1992
Article 6681 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Path: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!trwacs!erwin
>From: erwin@trwacs.fp.trw.com (Harry Erwin)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Consciousness
Message-ID: <707@trwacs.fp.trw.com>
Date: 22 Aug 92 13:02:32 GMT
References: <705@trwacs.fp.trw.com> <BtC4u6.Kp3@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca>
Organization: TRW Systems Division, Fairfax VA
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cpshelle@logos.uwaterloo.ca (cameron shelley) writes:

>erwin@trwacs.fp.trw.com (Harry Erwin) writes:
>> This is a summary of recent comments on consciousness.
>[...]
>> I have a comment on this: The dynamics of cultural and genetic
>> transmission differ. In particular, genetic transmission can't track the
>> evolution of a chaotic strategy, while cultural transmission can. (This is
>> based on some simulation work and an analysis of why a difference was
>> apparent in that work.) This is the reason that I believe social group
>> behavior and consciousness are connected.

>Could you elaborate on this a bit?  I am curious about what you mean
>by "genetic transmission can't track the evolution of a chaotic
>strategy, while cultural transmission can."

Since most random mutations are deleterious, it is selectively
advantageous to have a low mutation rate. When I simulated the evolution
of a population strategy for a chaotic game, the system fixated on a
relatively good strategy at the lowest available mutation rate. There were
a number of side issues, including the effect of a finite population on
the amount of genetic diversity available, the effect of a digital
encoding for a game that would be better played with continuous strategy
variation, and the exact model of reproduction. In any case, though, it
became clear that the disadvantage of _random_ mutation overwhelms the
advantage of being able to change one's strategy, even when the game is
chaotic. Cultural evolution, however, is directed/non-random. This allows
animals with culture to play chaotic games. (BTW, I'm finally getting
around to writing this up. I'm planning to present this material at the
1993 Animal Behavior Workshop in Vienna, AU, if I can find the funding.
I'll probably submit it to JTB for publication.)

Cheers,
-- 
Harry Erwin
Internet: erwin@trwacs.fp.trw.com



