Bruineberg, Jelle and Dolega, Krzysztof and Dewhurst, Joe and Baltieri, Manuel (2020) The Emperor’s New Markov Blankets. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Markov blankets have been used to settle disputes central to philosophy of mind and cognition. Their development from a technical concept in Bayesian inference to a central concept within the free-energy principle is analysed. We propose to distinguish between instrumental Pearl blankets and realist Friston blankets. Pearl blankets are substantiated by the empirical literature but can do limited philosophical work. Friston blankets can do philosophical work, but require strong theoretical assumptions. Both are conflated in the current literature on the free-energy principle. Consequently, we propose that distinguishing between an instrumental and a realist research program will help clarify the literature.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Bruineberg, Jelle jelle.bruineberg@mq.edu.au Dolega, Krzysztof krzysztof.dolega@rub.de Dewhurst, Joe joseph.e.dewhurst@gmail.com Baltieri, Manuel manuel.baltieri@gmail.com
Keywords:	free energy principle, active inference, markov blanket
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Complex Systems Specific Sciences > Computer Science Specific Sciences > Neuroscience General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Dr. Joe Dewhurst
Date Deposited:	01 Dec 2020 06:04
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2020 06:04
Item ID:	18467
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Complex Systems Specific Sciences > Computer Science Specific Sciences > Neuroscience General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	30 November 2020
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18467

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• The Emperor’s New Markov Blankets. (deposited 01 Dec 2020 06:04) [Currently Displayed]
  • The Emperor’s New Markov Blankets. (deposited 24 Oct 2021 03:39)

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