> >4. The dependency of complexity on the framework it is being considered
> >within does not prevent objectivity, if the participants *agree* on a
> >uniform such framework/language/goal (this may be as a result of a
> >claimed privileged framework - natural kinds, etc.).
>
> Yes, but that merely puts subjectivity one level higher to
> intersubjectivity, or better "group subjectivity". Again, different groups
> are unlikely to agree about the framework.
Correct, but that is where the problem belongs!
> >The complexity of an organism from its own point of view, is the
> >difficulty in predicting, modelling and controlling its _own_ state.
> >Part of this will be the ease with which it can come to decisions about
> >action (one would could only survive for any length of time as the
> >donkey that is exactly mid-way between two piles of hay and can not
> >decide which to go for in a protected environment).
>
> That does not seem to me a problem of complexity: a random process would be
> able to always make a decision and has a minimal complexity (at least in my
> sense). One should just give up the assumption that decisions must
> necessarily be based on some rule-like order.
1. Only part of this internal modelling problem is reflected in the ease of
decision making. Others would be the accuracy of prediction. e.g. in
controlling
internal blood-sugar levels the organism's thyroid gland does have to decide an
output in terms of amount of insulin to produce, but also it must make the
correct
one - it has an implicit internal model of the relationship of insulin to
blood-sugar
and also an implicit goal in the desired level.
2. Random processes are only simple relative to some languages of description.
e.g.
it is difficult to produce randomness on a Turing Machine (and there it is only
random relative to another process). A gas is simple only because of the choice
of a
coarse-grained description of it - in other words disregarding a lot of its
detailed
behaviour and attributing this to an atomic (in the sense of unanalysed)
"randomness".
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Bruce Edmonds,
Centre for Policy Modelling,
Manchester Metropolitan University, Aytoun Bldg.,
Aytoun St., Manchester, M1 3GH. UK.
Tel: +44 161 247 6479 Fax: +44 161 247 6802
http://bruce.edmonds.name/bme_home.html