FW: Sober's epiphenomenator

Posted by thompnickson2 on Aug 10, 2020; 7:09pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Sober-s-epiphenomenator-tp7598198p7598248.html

Sorry for reposting, and I know I ask a lot of you-all, but could some few of you have a look at this model.  See picture above, and discussion below:

This object was the subject of a protracted discussion amongst the hangers-on at Friday’s vMeeting of FRIAM.  Upon reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it can be used to explicate almost any problem, including intentionality, referential opacity, epiphenomenality, selection of/for, the law of short-sighted striving, goal/function, design to/by, spandrels, exaptation, abduction, actual/potential, the peculiar passions of robots that herd, side effects, collateral damage, inert ingredients, polyphenism, metaphors, models, simulations,  and, I would predict, a bunch of tangled concepts in software design and AI, as well.  This machine is, indeed, the Key To All Scriptures.  This picture courtesy of Professor Elliott Sober, of Wisconsin’s Department of Philosophy.  

 

Thanks,

 

Nick

- .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. .
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6  bit.ly/virtualfriam
un/subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
archives: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/
FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/