PhilSci Archive

A Universal Ethology Challenge to the Free Energy Principle: Species of Inference and Good Regulators

Kirchhoff, Michael and van Es, Thomas (2021) A Universal Ethology Challenge to the Free Energy Principle: Species of Inference and Good Regulators. [Preprint]

[img]
Preview
Text
Paper 1 - Universal Ethology Challenge (2).pdf

Download (328kB) | Preview

Abstract

The free energy principle (FEP) portends to provide a unifying principle for the biological and cognitive sciences. It states that for a system to maintain non-equilibrium steady-state with its environment it must minimise its (information-theoretic) free energy. Under the FEP, to minimise free energy is equivalent to engaging in approximate Bayesian inference. According to the FEP, therefore, inference is at the explanatory base of biology and cognition. In this paper, we discuss a specific challenge to this inferential formulation of adaptive self-organisation. We call it the universal ethology challenge: it states that the FEP cannot unify biology and cognition, for life itself (or adaptive self-organisation) does not require inferential routines to select adaptive solutions to environmental pressures (as mandated by the FEP). We show that it is possible to overcome the universal ethology challenge by providing a cautious and exploratory treatment of inference under the FEP. We conclude that there are good reasons for thinking that the FEP can unify biology and cognition under the notion of approximate Bayesian inference, even if further challenges must be addressed to properly draw such a conclusion.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Kirchhoff, Michaelkirchhof@uow.edu.au0000-0002-2530-0718
van Es, Thomasthomas.vanes@uantwerpen.be
Additional Information: This is a pre-proof version of the manuscript accepted for publication in Biology & Philosophy
Keywords: Free energy principle; biology; cognition; the universal ethology challenge; unification; inference; models
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
Depositing User: Dr Michael Kirchhoff
Date Deposited: 07 Jan 2021 20:13
Last Modified: 07 Jan 2021 20:13
Item ID: 18580
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
Date: 6 January 2021
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18580

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item