Consciousness is inference (Friston)

Consciousness is inference (Friston)

1. [1] We are thrown ito the world [out there] as a PROCESS already in motion

   • Processes that matter here: PROCESSES making up COMPLEX SYSTEMS

2. [2] Knowing LYAPUNOV FUNCTION [LF] for each state of a system --> know flow of the system between states

   • Example: water stream through a mountainous landscape
     • Lyapunov function: montainous landscape
     • Description of evolution of system: movement of stream of water

3. [3] COMPLEX SYSTEMS use their LF FUNCTION to move towards ATTRACTORS (small number of most probable states)

   • = repetitive, SELF-ORGANISING behavior
   • COMPLEX SYSTEMS are SELF-ORGANISING because they have ATTRACTORS
     • ATTRACTORS: cycles of mutually reinforcing states allowing PROCESSES to reach a DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM

4. [4] HUMANS = "strange loops" or "playful loops" (Douglas Hofstader)

   • We move through an enormous, high-dimensional state-space of possibilities, but are forced by our ATTRACTORS to move around in confined circles (= pattern of trajectory of an automn leave falling)
     • To be ALIVE --> all our PROCESSES must DECREASE the LF --> pushing as to ATTRACTORS
       • Our PROCESSES = thoughts & behaviors
   • HUMANS = COMPLEX SYSTEM with a set of ATTRACTING STATES

5. [5] Interpretations of LF

   • I) from INFORMATION TH.
     • LF = SURPRISE
   • II) from STATISTICS
     • LF = (NEGATIVE) EVIDENCE
       • = MARGINAL LIKELIHOOD
         • = probablity that a given model acounting for that state is correct
           • = staying alive --> II) we increase our model evidence (SELF-EVIDENCING) = minimise surprise
   • [6] --> EXISTENTIAL DYNAMICS with PURPOSE & TELEOLOGY
     • INFERENCE = maximising evidence for a model of the world (for me!)
       • The model is OURSELVES! (i.e. we evaluate what the world might be doing to us)
       • INFERENCE: what any COMPLEX PROCESS repeatedly occuppying certain states performs
         • [6.1] INFERENCE in NATURAL SELECTION: SELECTING among CREATURES
           • Example [evolution in terms of inference]: PHENOTYPES of a population (of a species) = multiple HYPOTESIS OR MODELS about what might 'work'
             • EACH INDIVIDUAL = MODEL of what should occupy the corresponding ecological niche
     • INFERENCE: process of figuring out the best hypothesis that explains the observed states of the SYSTEM we call the WORLD

6. [7] INFERENCE IN CONSCIOUSNESS

   • Conscious processing: inferring the causes of sensory states
     • --> navigate the wold to elude surprise
   • --> SELECTING among different STATES of the same creature (in particular, its brain)
     • brain = self-evidencing organ of inference
   • Conscious vs non-conscious creatures
     • how they make inferences about ACTION & TIME
       • To determine a future action, the system must have internal models with TEMPORAL THICKNESS
         • --> COUNTERFACTUAL DEPTH
         • Future action --> minimisation of EXPECTED surprise following the action
       • VIRUSES are unconscious: they don't have a THICK MODEL OF TIME
   • CONSCIOUSNESS = inference about my future