Mann, Stephen Francis and Pain, Ross and Kirchhoff, Michael (2022) Free Energy: A User's Guide. Biology & Philosophy. ISSN 1572-8404

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Abstract

Over the last fifteen years, an ambitious explanatory framework has been proposed to unify explanations across biology and cognitive science. Active inference, whose most famous tenet is the free energy principle, has inspired excitement and confusion in equal measure. Here, we lay the ground for proper critical analysis of active inference, in three ways. First, we give simplified versions of its core mathematical models. Second, we outline the historical development of active inference and its relationship to other theoretical approaches. Third, we describe three different kinds of claim -- labelled mathematical, empirical and general -- routinely made by proponents of the framework, and suggest dialectical links between them. Overall, we aim to increase philosophical understanding of active inference so that it may be more readily evaluated.

This is a manuscript draft of the Introduction to the Topical Collection "The Free Energy Principle: From Biology to Cognition", forthcoming in Biology & Philosophy.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Mann, Stephen Francis stephenfmann@gmail.com 0000-0002-4136-8595 Pain, Ross ross.pain@anu.edu.au 0000-0002-5354-6301 Kirchhoff, Michael kirchhof@uow.edu.au 0000-0002-2530-0718
Additional Information:	Introduction to the Biology & Philosophy Topical Collection "The Free Energy Principle: From Biology to Cognition". Comments and suggestions welcome!
Keywords:	free energy principle; active inference; models; computational cognitive science
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience General Issues > Decision Theory General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Depositing User:	Dr Stephen Francis Mann
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2022 02:30
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2022 02:30
Item ID:	20750
Journal or Publication Title:	Biology & Philosophy
Publisher:	Springer
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience General Issues > Decision Theory General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Date:	14 June 2022
ISSN:	1572-8404
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20750

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• Free Energy: A User's Guide. (deposited 12 Dec 2021 01:07)
  • Free Energy: A User's Guide. (deposited 17 Jun 2022 02:30) [Currently Displayed]

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