Limitations of Scientific Ontology
Citation:
Vernon, David; Furlong, Dermot. 'Limitations of Scientific Ontology'. - Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Computer Science, TCD-CS-92-07, 1992, pp14Download Item:
Abstract:
Artificial life is a new multi-disciplinary science which is emerging from established practices in artificial intelligence, computational biology, and cybernetics. It is argued in this paper that conventional scientific concepts of being and existence, i.e. ontology, which underpin most of our attempts to create artificial life and intelligent systems, are inadequate to deal with these issues. It is argued that the current, pervasive and popular, positivistic philosophy of science is wholly inadequate when we come to deal with the issue of artificial life. However, by extending our ontological basis, specifically by incorporating a relativistic ontology (supporting a continuum of existence and being) we argue that the problem concerning the possibility of the creation of artificial life becomes tractable but not necessarily solvable. We argue that this approach lends itself to the development of usefully adaptive systmes which can, in effect, simulate the intelligent (or cognitive) behaviour which we require of our systems, while not purporting them to be alive. An important ramification of this argument is the necessity of self-organization for effecting this development.
Author: Vernon, David; Furlong, Dermot
Publisher:
Trinity College Dublin, Department of Computer ScienceType of material:
Technical ReportCollections
Series/Report no:
Computer Science Technical ReportTCD-CS-92-07
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Artificial Life, Ontology, Existence, Self-Organization, Philosophy of ScienceMetadata
Show full item recordLicences: