PhilSci Archive

The Emperor’s New Markov Blankets

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

This is the latest version of this item.

[img]
Preview
Text
The Emperor's New Markov Blankets_updated.pdf

Download (940kB) | Preview

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.


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

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Bruineberg, Jellejelle.bruineberg@mq.edu.au
Dolega, Krzysztofkrzysztof.dolega@rub.de
Dewhurst, Joejoseph.e.dewhurst@gmail.com
Baltieri, Manuelmanuel.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: 24 Oct 2021 03:39
Last Modified: 24 Oct 2021 03:39
Item ID: 19726
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/19726

Available Versions of this Item

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item