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From the Origins of Life to Intelligence: The Emergence of Symbolic ConstructsIntelligence cannot be understood - and cannot be 'artificially recreated' - without also understanding how it fits as a phenomenon in the evolution of matter. I say 'matter' instead of 'life' because my thesis is that the distinction between matter, with its associated interactions, and life, is simply in the complexity of these interactions and in the number of 'symbolic levels' that are defined by these interactions. Most of us think of symbols only in the context of language. This is understandable, since it is at this level where it is easiest to draw a distinction between natural objects and their 'names', i.e., the different sets of 'abstract' objects that can be manipulated to produce models of the 'real' world. Of course sets of abstract objects can also acquire names and be manipulated at higher and higher conceptual levels. When we use the words 'philosophy' or 'the Declaration of Independence' we use abstract constructs that will only make sense in other specific abstract contexts. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
Document ID
20020051403
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Colombano, Silvano P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Clancy, Daniel
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Behavioral Sciences
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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