1. Evolution of Complex Systems Lecture 7: Society and its reproduction Peter Andras / Bruce Charlton peter.andras@ncl.ac.ukbruce.charlton@ncl.ac.uk

2. 2 Objectives Multi-organism systems Multi-organism systems Human communications Human communications Human society Human society Human artefacts and writing Human artefacts and writing Education system Education system The system of religion The system of religion The system of science The system of science Identity violation and adaptation Identity violation and adaptation

3. 3 Organisms Multi-cellular systems made up of inter- cellular communications Multi-cellular systems made up of inter- cellular communications Subsystems of specialist communications: tissues Subsystems of specialist communications: tissues E.g., muscle tissue, nervous system E.g., muscle tissue, nervous system

4. 4 Organism actions and perceptions Actions: sequence of patterns of inter-cellular communications Actions: sequence of patterns of inter-cellular communications E.g., limb movement E.g., limb movement Perception: environmental actions on cells that are part of the organism, changing their communications, and changing in this way the pattern of communications within the organism Perception: environmental actions on cells that are part of the organism, changing their communications, and changing in this way the pattern of communications within the organism E.g., perception of light by photoreceptors E.g., perception of light by photoreceptors

5. 5 Inter-organism communications Organism actions on the environment Organism actions on the environment The changes in the environment are perceived by another organism through environment induced changes in its own communications The changes in the environment are perceived by another organism through environment induced changes in its own communications E.g., sound emission, transmission and reception E.g., sound emission, transmission and reception

6. 6 Referencing in inter-organism communications Each communication action / behaviour is determined by earlier communication behaviours, which are selected to be referenced by the current communication behaviour Each communication action / behaviour is determined by earlier communication behaviours, which are selected to be referenced by the current communication behaviour E.g., courtship or fighting behaviour in animals E.g., courtship or fighting behaviour in animals

7. 7 Multi-organism systems – 1 Organisms act as communication units by performing communication behaviours Organisms act as communication units by performing communication behaviours The communications are frequent and generate a dense communication cluster surrounded by rare communications with other organism communication units The communications are frequent and generate a dense communication cluster surrounded by rare communications with other organism communication units E.g., a community of dogs, which communicate more frequently with other dogs than with other animals E.g., a community of dogs, which communicate more frequently with other dogs than with other animals

8. 8 Multi-organism systems – 2 Small systems: courtship, fighting, offspring raising Small systems: courtship, fighting, offspring raising Large systems: ant and bee colonies, human society Large systems: ant and bee colonies, human society

9. 9 Human individuals Organism with many subsystem Organism with many subsystem Has information subsystem – nervous system Has information subsystem – nervous system Has information subsystem of the nervous system – memory Has information subsystem of the nervous system – memory Long-term memory and mind Long-term memory and mind

10. 10 Mind and language Mind = information subsystem of the nervous system, generated by the double contingency of ‘who am I’ Mind = information subsystem of the nervous system, generated by the double contingency of ‘who am I’ Language of mind: discussing about itself – ‘who am I’ Language of mind: discussing about itself – ‘who am I’

11. 11 Subsystems of the nervous system Visual, auditory, motor, etc. subsystems Visual, auditory, motor, etc. subsystems Information subsystem: memory processing – associative subsystems Information subsystem: memory processing – associative subsystems

12. 12 Language subsystems Language understanding subsystem: Wernicke area Language understanding subsystem: Wernicke area Language behaviour production subsystem: Broca area (speech production) Language behaviour production subsystem: Broca area (speech production)

13. 13 Behavioural language Animals: courtship, fighting, body language, vocalisation Animals: courtship, fighting, body language, vocalisation Humans: facial gestures, body language, vocalisation, speech Humans: facial gestures, body language, vocalisation, speech

14. 14 Behavioural society System of behavioural communications between animals System of behavioural communications between animals E.g., ants, bees, monkeys, dogs E.g., ants, bees, monkeys, dogs

15. 15 Memories of behaviours Human language – long-term memory Human language – long-term memory Memories of behaviours  long-term memory  communications about long-term memories  human language Memories of behaviours  long-term memory  communications about long-term memories  human language Memories of behavioural communications  communications between such memories Memories of behavioural communications  communications between such memories System of verbal inter-human communications System of verbal inter-human communications

16. 16 Human communications – 1 Words: sequences of phonemes Words: sequences of phonemes Sentences: sequences of words Sentences: sequences of words Communications: set of sentences Communications: set of sentences

17. 17 Human communications – 2 Rules of phoneme consecutiveness: very sharp conditional distributions Rules of phoneme consecutiveness: very sharp conditional distributions Rules of word consecutiveness: grammar of the language Rules of word consecutiveness: grammar of the language Rules of large scale communications: semantic rules of referencing between sentences Rules of large scale communications: semantic rules of referencing between sentences

18. 18 The system of human communications Human communications referencing other human communications Human communications referencing other human communications Dense cluster of communications with rare communications around (e.g., communications with a dog) Dense cluster of communications with rare communications around (e.g., communications with a dog) Society = system of human communications Society = system of human communications

19. 19 Actions of the society Sequence of human communications that induce actions of humans (communication units) on the environment Sequence of human communications that induce actions of humans (communication units) on the environment E.g., calling closer another human or executing a scientific experiment E.g., calling closer another human or executing a scientific experiment

20. 20 Perceptions of the society Environment induced changes in communication units (humans) induce human communications Environment induced changes in communication units (humans) induce human communications Such communications may differ from the most expected ones conveying perceptions for the society system Such communications may differ from the most expected ones conveying perceptions for the society system

21. 21 Meaningful communications Reference other human communications and are referenced by others following the continuation rules of human communications Reference other human communications and are referenced by others following the continuation rules of human communications Contribute to the reproduction / maintenance and expansion of the society system Contribute to the reproduction / maintenance and expansion of the society system E.g., gossiping E.g., gossiping

22. 22 Meaningless communications Communications that lead to communications that cannot be referenced Communications that lead to communications that cannot be referenced Such communications are about paradoxes, i.e. case when it is impossible to decide whether the communication is correct or not according to the rules of communications Such communications are about paradoxes, i.e. case when it is impossible to decide whether the communication is correct or not according to the rules of communications The correctness refers to the semantic correctness not to the grammar or word phoneme order (these are very sharply defined) The correctness refers to the semantic correctness not to the grammar or word phoneme order (these are very sharply defined)

23. 23 Faults, errors and failures Faulty communication: ‘ratulleps’, ‘cat the ate big the mouse’, ‘she was blonde with blue eyes, so it was running around the table, and the cherries were really ripe’ – senseless communications Faulty communication: ‘ratulleps’, ‘cat the ate big the mouse’, ‘she was blonde with blue eyes, so it was running around the table, and the cherries were really ripe’ – senseless communications Error: the politician makes his big speech and the people leave quietly the room, without responding or commenting on his speech – communications are correct and follow the rules, but they don’t have the expected continuation Error: the politician makes his big speech and the people leave quietly the room, without responding or commenting on his speech – communications are correct and follow the rules, but they don’t have the expected continuation Failure: lack of reliable communications lead to weak performance and falling apart of the company Failure: lack of reliable communications lead to weak performance and falling apart of the company

24. 24 Memory – human memories Records of human communications Records of human communications Reproduction of earlier verbal communications Reproduction of earlier verbal communications E.g., re-told stories about heroes, rituals, customs E.g., re-told stories about heroes, rituals, customs

25. 25 Memory – human artefacts Human communications (including behaviours) lead to the production of human artefacts Human communications (including behaviours) lead to the production of human artefacts E.g. arrow, pot, clothes, painting, sculpture, earring E.g. arrow, pot, clothes, painting, sculpture, earring Production of such artefacts needs the reproduction of human behaviours leading to them – they facilitate the reproduction of these behaviours Production of such artefacts needs the reproduction of human behaviours leading to them – they facilitate the reproduction of these behaviours Human artefacts also facilitate the reproduction of a range of other human behaviours and communications related to their use Human artefacts also facilitate the reproduction of a range of other human behaviours and communications related to their use Such artefacts can be considered as forms of human society memories Such artefacts can be considered as forms of human society memories

26. 26 Writing Counting of artefacts – core of human memories about human artefacts Counting of artefacts – core of human memories about human artefacts Counting  Writing – accounting in early human societies Counting  Writing – accounting in early human societies Writing produces records of human communications (including behaviours) Writing produces records of human communications (including behaviours) Writing can facilitate the reproduction of memorized communications Writing can facilitate the reproduction of memorized communications

27. 27 Information subsystem Processing of memories about human communications Processing of memories about human communications Information subsystem of the society: human communications about the identity of the social system Information subsystem of the society: human communications about the identity of the social system Rely on human memories, human artefacts, and in particular on written text Rely on human memories, human artefacts, and in particular on written text

28. 28 Identity The identity of social systems is defined by their information subsystem The identity of social systems is defined by their information subsystem Identity: which rituals are correct and which are incorrect, which forms and reports are in the right format, who is human who is not (see barbarians) Identity: which rituals are correct and which are incorrect, which forms and reports are in the right format, who is human who is not (see barbarians) E.g. tribes, companies, groups of friends E.g. tribes, companies, groups of friends

29. 29 Reproduction of the society Generation of new communications that fit into the society system Generation of new communications that fit into the society system Acquiring new communication units: reproduction of human organisms, attracting new humans to participate in the system of society Acquiring new communication units: reproduction of human organisms, attracting new humans to participate in the system of society

30. 30 Many societies A society is defined by its communications that are built using the society’s language A society is defined by its communications that are built using the society’s language Each human language defines a society Each human language defines a society Societies may compete for communication units Societies may compete for communication units E.g., multi-ethnic societies E.g., multi-ethnic societies

31. 31 Subsystems of societies Specialized human communications dealing with some part of the society Specialized human communications dealing with some part of the society Subsystems have an apparent function within the system of society Subsystems have an apparent function within the system of society E.g., political system – power distribution, science system – scientific knowledge production E.g., political system – power distribution, science system – scientific knowledge production

32. 32 Education Providing the communication rule knowledge to humans Providing the communication rule knowledge to humans Socialisation Socialisation E.g., schools, family education E.g., schools, family education

33. 33 Family education Basic socialisation: kids learn a language, its use and related behaviours Basic socialisation: kids learn a language, its use and related behaviours Part of education, especially in early human societies Part of education, especially in early human societies

34. 34 Schools Systematic education of kids about advanced knowledge that they refer to in their life, while deriving their communications Systematic education of kids about advanced knowledge that they refer to in their life, while deriving their communications E.g., teaching math, physics, biology E.g., teaching math, physics, biology

35. 35 The reproduction subsystem Education deals with reproduction of communications that provide the foundation for the future expansion of the society communications Education deals with reproduction of communications that provide the foundation for the future expansion of the society communications Education forms a subsystem of the society that deals with the reproduction of common knowledge Education forms a subsystem of the society that deals with the reproduction of common knowledge Common knowledge: usually referred by many human communications within the society Common knowledge: usually referred by many human communications within the society

36. 36 Un-common knowledge Society communications may lead to paradoxes in semantic terms Society communications may lead to paradoxes in semantic terms E.g., fire for early societies which didn’t know the use of fire E.g., fire for early societies which didn’t know the use of fire Dealing with such problems is essential to eliminate their damaging effect Dealing with such problems is essential to eliminate their damaging effect The un-common knowledge deals with such problems The un-common knowledge deals with such problems E.g., the gods bring the fire E.g., the gods bring the fire

37. 37 Religion The religion contains the un-common knowledge The religion contains the un-common knowledge It provides explanations of common knowledge paradoxes fitting these into the system of society It provides explanations of common knowledge paradoxes fitting these into the system of society The religion is a specialist subsystem of the society, dealing with the un- common knowledge The religion is a specialist subsystem of the society, dealing with the un- common knowledge

38. 38 Scientific knowledge Communications that can be referred in the society system, of which correctness (i.e., whether they are part or not of the society) is verified experimentally Communications that can be referred in the society system, of which correctness (i.e., whether they are part or not of the society) is verified experimentally Experimental check: action, predicted perception, checked prediction Experimental check: action, predicted perception, checked prediction E.g., physics, chemistry E.g., physics, chemistry

39. 39 Scientific, common, and un- common knowledge A good part of science is not part of common knowledge A good part of science is not part of common knowledge Science competes with the system of un-common knowledge Science competes with the system of un-common knowledge A part of science is integrated into common knowledge by expansion of the education system (see universities) A part of science is integrated into common knowledge by expansion of the education system (see universities)

40. 40 The language of science Reduced human language with more specific rules, with sharper continuation distributions Reduced human language with more specific rules, with sharper continuation distributions The communications are about whether a communications can be proven to be correct or not by some experimental validation or by referring to proven communications The communications are about whether a communications can be proven to be correct or not by some experimental validation or by referring to proven communications

41. 41 Actions and perceptions of science Actions: experimental check or set of references to earlier proven communications Actions: experimental check or set of references to earlier proven communications Perceptions: communications generated after the execution of the experiment or references that trigger new scientific communications Perceptions: communications generated after the execution of the experiment or references that trigger new scientific communications

42. 42 Meaningful and meaningless Meaningful: something that fits into the experimentally validatable / falsifiable context Meaningful: something that fits into the experimentally validatable / falsifiable context Meaningless: communications that lead to invalid or experimentally un- checkable communications – faulty science communications Meaningless: communications that lead to invalid or experimentally un- checkable communications – faulty science communications E.g., religious communications E.g., religious communications

43. 43 Errors and failures in science Error: Lysenko’s genetics – followed general rules of science, but it was based on wrong premises and had no continuation Error: Lysenko’s genetics – followed general rules of science, but it was based on wrong premises and had no continuation Failure: alchemy – based on wrong premises, using wrong rules Failure: alchemy – based on wrong premises, using wrong rules

44. 44 Adaptation in science Identity: scientific communications can be validated experimentally or by logical reasoning – anything that doesn’t fit this is not part of science Identity: scientific communications can be validated experimentally or by logical reasoning – anything that doesn’t fit this is not part of science Identity violations  adaptation Identity violations  adaptation E.g. relativity theory, quantum theory, importance of non-coding RNAs, object oriented theory of computer programs E.g. relativity theory, quantum theory, importance of non-coding RNAs, object oriented theory of computer programs Kuhn: revolutionary and standard science Kuhn: revolutionary and standard science

45. 45 Education, religion and science Education  religion, education  science, religion  science Education  religion, education  science, religion  science Education communications also reference science (mostly) and religious (to much less extent) communications – religion and science influence the education system Education communications also reference science (mostly) and religious (to much less extent) communications – religion and science influence the education system

46. 46 Identity and identity violation in the education system Identity: education communications are those which lead to the reproduction of human memories required for production of social communications that reproduce and expand the society Identity: education communications are those which lead to the reproduction of human memories required for production of social communications that reproduce and expand the society Identity violations – depend on social context: induction of within-society hatred, education about irrelevant knowledge like leninism, education about the uselessness and unimportance of education – see cultural revolution in China Identity violations – depend on social context: induction of within-society hatred, education about irrelevant knowledge like leninism, education about the uselessness and unimportance of education – see cultural revolution in China

47. 47 Adaptation in the education system New forms of education in response to lack of expected large volume continuation of communications – e.g. trade schools, generalised elementary education, formal graduate schools New forms of education in response to lack of expected large volume continuation of communications – e.g. trade schools, generalised elementary education, formal graduate schools Review of educational textbooks in response to changes in science – e.g. biology – recently, physics – in the past Review of educational textbooks in response to changes in science – e.g. biology – recently, physics – in the past Reorganisation of university departments in response to failure of them to attract students, who are required for the reproduction of education system communications – e.g. physics, chemistry and philosophy departments Reorganisation of university departments in response to failure of them to attract students, who are required for the reproduction of education system communications – e.g. physics, chemistry and philosophy departments

48. 48 Summary – 1 Multi-organism systems Multi-organism systems Humans: nervous system, brain, mind Humans: nervous system, brain, mind Human communications and language Human communications and language Society = system of human communications Society = system of human communications Information subsystem and identity Information subsystem and identity

49. 49 Summary – 2 Education – reproduction subsystem of common knowledge Education – reproduction subsystem of common knowledge Religion – the subsystem of uncommon knowledge Religion – the subsystem of uncommon knowledge Science – the subsystem of scientific knowledge Science – the subsystem of scientific knowledge Identity violations and adaptation Identity violations and adaptation

50. 50 Q&A – 1 1. Is it true that a limb movement can be considered as a sequence of communication patterns between the cells of an organism ? 2. Is it true that hunting a prey is a set of communications that constitute a communication system ? 3. Is it true that the communications between ants constitute the ant society/colony system ?

51. 51 Q&A – 2 4. Is it true that the humans communicate within themselves about their own identity forming the system of the mind ? 5. Is it true that there is no specialized brain area for production of human speech ? 6. Is it true that human language communications constitute the human society ? 7. Is it true that the communications between a human and its dog is part of the society ?

52. 52 Q&A – 3 8. Is it true that education deals with the reproduction of communications making up the un-common knowledge ? 9. Is it true that religious communications are meaningless in the system of science ? 10. Is it true that the actions of science are sequences of human communications resulting in scientific experiments ?