Teleosemantics and the free energy principle
Biology and Philosophy 37 (4):1-25 (2022)
Abstract
The free energy principle is notoriously difficult to understand. In this paper, we relate the principle to a framework that philosophers of biology are familiar with: Ruth Millikan’s teleosemantics. We argue that: systems that minimise free energy are systems with a proper function; and Karl Friston’s notion of implicit modelling can be understood in terms of Millikan’s notion of mapping relations. Our analysis reveals some surprising formal similarities between the two frameworks, and suggests interesting lines of future research. We hope this will aid further philosophical evaluation of the free energy principle.
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Archival date: 2022-06-15
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2022-06-15
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163 ( #41,205 of 71,179 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
163 ( #3,468 of 71,179 )
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