Dear Colleagues:
"Symbolic Interactionist Modelling:
Emerging Institutions from the Interpretation of Signs"
is the title of the May 21, 1997 after-lunch paper by Deborah V. Duong
of the George Mason University Institute for Computational Sciences and
Informatics.
Reservations are required by Monday, May 19, 12:00 PM. Reservations can
be
made by calling Ruth Schimel, 202-659-1772 between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
Other information follows the abstract.
Guests are welcome.
Further details are posted at WWW.WESS.ORG
Jerry LR Chandler
Abstract
This work introduces a method of simulating the coevolution of
macro-level social institutions and micro-level symbolic interaction.
Intelligent object-oriented agents, each with their own neural network
or genetic algorithm, induce what sign they should display and the
meanings of signs that they need to read in order to perform pragmatic
economic functions of their daily lives. From this displaying and
reading of signs, agents come
to have shared meanings despite the fact that they don't copy each other
and only see from their own contexts. These shared meanings become their
own symbol system, enabling them to behave in synchrony. By keeping the
priciples of Hermaneutics, we explain not only the existence of similar
behaviors, but the consonance of different behaviors within a system.
Biography
Ms. Duong, a graduate student in the Institute for Computational
Sciences and Informatics, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA., has
received substantial national recognition for her innovative
constructions
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Logistics
Our host, as usual, will be the GWU University Club, located at Marvin
Center, 800 21st Street N.W., Washington, D.C. (3rd floor).
Reservations are required by Monday, May 14, 12:00 P.M. The University
Club requires reservations 48 hours in advance. Reservations can be
made by calling Ruth Schimel, 202-659-1772 between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
The cost is $15.00 for members and $25.00 for non - members, payable by
check or cash at the door. If necessary, please leave your name, number
of reservations, and telephone number on the answering machine.