Empirical Outline

Figure 2.1: Evolutionary Framework of Engineered Intelligent Systems
\includegraphics[width=4.5in]{EvolutionaryFramework.eps}

The general outline of the evolutionary framework presupposed for this lecture can be seen in figure 2.1. In this paper we restrict the investigation of the phenomenon of life to the realm of the planet earth. Perhaps there is more life in the measurable universe, but this is not at stake here. Nevertheless the results of astrobiology shall be taken into account as far as necessary (cf. e.g. [336])2.1.

The planet earth is assumed as the primary environment for the terrestrial phenomenon of life. Minimally it is assumed that earth represents a process with some spatial structure and objects.

The phenomenon of life is understood as manifesting through behaving individual systems which always are given as members of a population. The primary property of members of a population is the direct exchange of genetic informations. The genetic information determines primarily the structure of a possible body and thereby to a high degree the possible behavior of an individual system. The process of genetic exchange enables a possible recombination of the genetic information mixed up with mutations which are caused by factors external to the genetic exchange. From the point of view of an acting population can the environment be understood as an open collection of tasks which have to be solved that a population will gain enough offspring to survive. All the genetic information of the whole population together represents the primary capital of the population, it's basic memory.

A system as an individual member of a population is a process too: it has a certain point of 'departure' called birth. It shows - usually - some growth process, it should be able to directly exchange its genetic information (some kind of mating), it shows further - usually - some aging, and finally it will terminate, which is called death.

Figure 2.2: Genetic Loop of Evolutionary Framework of Engineered Intelligent Systems
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Figure 2.2 highlights the primary logic of life: whatever will be the surrounding conditions for life the primary process of survival is given in this continuous loop to improve the complexity of the working structures for to solve more and more complex tasks. The possible final goal of this process - if there is one at all - is not explicitly known in the beginning of life. The whole process is only stepwise 'revealing' more and more new possible states which induce specific 'feelings' inside of the acting systems. In which sense these new states and feelings are 'good' or 'bad' beyond the primary goal of physical survival is difficult to state from now.

Gerd Doeben-Henisch 2012-03-31