Evolution, generative entrenchment
and the bounds of rationality
Konrad Talmont-Kaminski
Marie Curie-Sklodowska University
Two issues
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Bounded rationality theory claims all reasoning heuristic
in nature
Why should this be the case?
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Hume’s problem of induction defines the field of possible
epistemic processes, both for reasoning & evolution
What about development of new heuristics?
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Hume’s problem of induction forces development of new
heuristics to proceed by broadly evolutionary means
Bounded rationality
Heuristics all the way up
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Herbert Simon The Sciences of the
Artificial 3rd ed. 1996
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Heuristics
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Perfect rationality a bad model
Satisficing not optimising
Rules-of-thumb
Heuristics all the way up
Adaptations to scientific theories
Simple heuristics used outside bounded rationality
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Kahneman & Tversky
Dual process accounts of reason
Fast, frugal, etc.
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Bill Wimsatt Re-engineering Philosophy of Limited Beings
2007
Broad characterisation of heuristics
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Fallible
Frugal (and fast, too)
Systematically biased
Problem transforming
Have specific uses
Developed from other heuristics (Exapted)
Is it heuristics all the way up?
Hume & heuristics
Exaptation & heuristics
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Jerry-built products of evolution
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Exaptation
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Using existing traits for new functions
Feathers in dinosaurs and birds
Human reason
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Evolutionary history
Building a Ferrari from a Morris MM
Developmental pathways
Typical product of evolution
Kahneman & Tversky studies
Collection of heuristics
Is human reason bounded because of
evolution?
Dual process accounts
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Jonathan Evans & others
Heuristics
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Logical Thinking
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System 2
Evolutionarily new
Problem
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System 1
Evolutionarily old
People do use logic
Human reasoning is bounded
How does system 2 work?
Humean ‘dualism’?
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Hume’s 2 ‘systems’
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Hume – the original dual process
theorist?
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No
Problem of induction
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Habits – heuristics
Reasons – System 2
250 years of looking for solution
Problem affects deductive reasoning, also
System 2, either
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Runs into problem of induction
Heuristics that use logical features of environment
A naturalist Hume
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A different view of the problem of induction
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Not a problem
A basic epistemic limit
Hume’s fact of reasoning
Heuristics are the response
Heuristics wherever Hume’s ‘Problem’
Relevance to evolution?
Heuristics all the way down
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Evolution is back-ward looking
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Adaptations suit previous environments
Not necessarily future ones
Environmental changes may lead to extinction
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Evolution short-sighted due to problem of induction
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Arms races (cheetahs & gazelles)
Adaptations are also heuristics
Hume’s problem is the fundamental epistemic limit
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Determines what evolutionary processes possible
Determines what cognitive processes possible
Open-endedness and
generative entrenchment
Evolution & engineering
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Contrast between
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Evolutionary processes
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Engineering projects
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Novel solutions
Only end product satisfices
Evolutionary landscape
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Small changes
Every step must be satisficing
Wheel
Evolutionary products more limited?
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In one sense, yes
Most limits due to
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Evolutionary histories
Developmental paths
Open-ended bounded rationality
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Human reason bounded but open-ended
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Consists of a set of heuristics but
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Develops new heuristics
Exapts existing heuristics to novel functions
Open-endedness makes it possible to transcend
particular limitations
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Develops and obtains new abilities
While still remaining bounded
Open-endedness key trait of evolution & cognition
Engineered systems either
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Closed ‘end-products’ and of little interest
Open-ended
Step-wise development & GE
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Hume’s problem forces
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Open-ended systems to develop in step-wise manner
Generative entrenchment (GE)
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Existing heuristics make new heuristics possible
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The more connections the more entrenched
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New transport systems & existing infrastructure
Human pyramid
GE results from open-ended development
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Wheel required for automobile
History/development paths significant for all open-ended systems
Development of open-ended engineered systems will have
basic traits of evolutionary change
Evolution & artificiality
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Artificial systems
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Etymological root - artifice
Adapted to their environment
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By evolution
By engineers
Some traits explained in terms of environment
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Atrophy of eyes in cave animals
Structure of the tire
Conclusions
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Hume’s ‘problem’ of ‘induction’
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Applies to all artificial systems
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The basic epistemic limit
Forces the use of heuristics
Limits how open-ended artificial systems can develop
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Forces the use of evolutionary processes
One more pyramid
konrad@talmont.com
http://deisidaimon.wordpress.com