http://www.teleodynamics.com From matter to mattering Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:38:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Abstract: A scientifically adequate theory of semiotic processes must ultimately be founded on a theory of information that can unify the physical, biological, cognitive, and computational uses of the concept. Unfortunately, no such unification exists, and more importantly, the causal status of informational content remains ambiguous as a result. Lacking ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=63 Abstract: A scientifically adequate theory of semiotic processes must ultimately be founded on a theory of information that can unify the physical, biological, cognitive, and computational uses of the concept. Unfortunately, no such unification exists, and more importantly, the causal status of informational content remains ambiguous as a result. Lacking ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=62 INTRODUCTION Neuropsychological theories make implicit assumptions about brain organization and the relationships between structure and function. These include assumptions about the movement and representation of information within brain structures and neural circuits and about the phylogenesis and development of these substrates. Unfortunately, our knowledge of human neuroanatomy remains incomplete and is ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=61 Abstract: Bateson left an unresolved ambiguity in his explanation of the relationship of the mind to the world, the map to the territory. This ambiguity is related to his failure to develop a theory of intentionality, reference, “aboutness.” However, he left us all the tools necessary to resolve this ambiguity ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=60 Abstract: Deacon has recently proposed that complexes of genes can be integrated into functional groups as a result of environmental changes that mask and unmask selection pressures. For example, many animals endogenously synthesize ascorbic acid (vitamin C), but anthropoid primates have only a nonfunctional version of the crucial gene ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=59 PP http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=58 PP Download PDF of full article Audio: http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=57 The ‘language-readiness' of human brains most probably resulted from modification of structures present in non-human primate brains, but identifying such homologues and the nature of their modifications has been highly problematic. In a recent article, Arbiband Bota suggest that these problems can be overcome using a neuroinformatics approach. But its ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=56 Abstract The concept of meme misidentifies units of cultural information as active agents, a shorthand similar to what misleads our understanding of genes and obscures the dynamic logic of evolution; but the concept does offer hope by contributing something missing from many semiotic theories. In treating memes as replicators, Dawkins ... http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=55 http://www.teleodynamics.com/?p=35