Michael Levin

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31 May

Michael LevinKorrents 31 May

From one piece Forms of life, forms of mind 3 beliefs, in the piece's order there

korrents.com
Evolution of agential materials has different dynamics than the evolution of passive substrates.

Their words

Moreover, evolution acting on competent, agential materials has distinct dynamics from evolution of passive substrates, with important consequences for evolvability.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life
korrents.com
There is no distinct boundary between chemical-physical machines and cognitive agents.

Their words

But, developmental biology also tells us there is no bright red line - no magic point in which we tick over from being chemico-physical machines to cognitive agents with minds; what it reveals is a gradual process of metamorphosis.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life
korrents.com
Morphogenesis is a fundamentally cognitive process rather than a purely mechanical one.

Their words

I argue that morphogenesis is not a mechanical process captured by emergence of complexity, but a fundamentally cognitive one: living matter constitutes an agential material whose multi-scale problem-solving capacities cannot be fully captured by conventional mechanistic or cellular automaton models.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life

31 March

Michael LevinKorrents 31 Mar

From one piece Forms of life, forms of mind 2 beliefs, in the piece's order there

korrents.com
Physicalism is insufficient and requires investigating a latent space of patterns.

Their words

Therefore, physicalism is insufficient in an important way and we need to investigate this latent space of patterns.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life
korrents.com
Non-physical patterns are causal in physics, biology, and computer science.

physics

Their words

These patterns are causal in physics, biology, and computer science because, a) if they were different, facts in the physical world would be different, and b) they serve as best explanations for why the physical world is the way it is.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life

29 January

Michael LevinKorrents 29 Jan

korrents.com
The transition from life to death is a continuum rather than a discrete event.

Their words

that transition is, like all important transitions, a continuum, and advancing clinical science (as well as bioengineering) has continued to demolish prior barriers-of-no-return.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life

10 October 2025

Michael LevinKorrents 10 Oct 2025

From one piece Forms of life, forms of mind 2 beliefs, in the piece's order there

korrents.com
An intelligence ratchet may be embedded in the fundamental mathematics of the universe.

mathematics

Their words

I suppose, in a sense I agree that an intelligence ratchet (paper coming in a few months) is embedded all the way down, as a free gift of the math.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life
korrents.com
Discovery in the biosciences will involve using cognitive science tools and collaborating with material rather than micromanaging it.

Their words

Most critically, it means that discovery in the biosciences will involve use of tools of cognitive science, and learning how to communicate/collaborate with the material, not simply micromanage it as we do with (seemingly) passive matter.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life

12 March 2024

Michael LevinKorrents 12 Mar 2024

From one piece Forms of life, forms of mind 3 beliefs, in the piece's order there

korrents.com
The miracle of sentience and the beauty of life in the universe also involves a lot of suffering.

AI sentience

Their words

I think so, yes. I don't see any way to gloss over the fact that the miracle of sentience and beauty of life in the universe also involves a lot of suffering.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life
korrents.com
Due to Gödel and Turing limits, it may be impossible to definitively prove that humans are part of a larger system with significant cognition.

Their words

I expect, but can't prove (although I bet someone could) that due to Gödel and Turing limits, we could never definitively prove that we were part of a larger system with significant cognition.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life
korrents.com
Biological systems are basically collective intelligences.

Their words

I have written a lot about the fact that biological systems, like us, are basically collective intelligences.

Forms of life, forms of mindthoughtforms.life

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