[MD] (MD] Collective intelligence

[Platt Holden]

Hi Horse,

I wonder what every happened to your suggestion to substitute "common
knowledge" for "collective intelligence." Seems it got compromised 
somewhere along the way with the collectivists coming on strong. I agree
with your original proposal that we all accept common knowledge  as
a non-provocative way to describe the "mythos" that Pirsig referred to. Do
you still favor your suggestion?

[P]
> > I guess Wilber doesn't understand complex systems theory either. Oh,
> > well. 

[H] 
> Maybe not if he uses the term 'Oops!' in that way. Or maybe it doesn't fit
> in with his world view so he dismisses it. Agenda's can cause severe
> limitations.

I agree, including the world view of proponents of complex systems theory. 

[P]
> > Please tell us what causes slime-mold. ant nests, bee hives, termites and
> > a free market economy.

[H] 
> Pheromones in the first 4 (no. 4 should have read termite colonies) and
> buyers and sellers in the last.

I looked up "pheromones" in Wikipedia but couldn't find a single one that
caused the organization of nests, hives,  or colonies. Most had to do with 
attracting mates. (Slime mold wasn't mentioned.) As for the free market, 
unlike the other examples of so called self-organizing systems it relies 
on human intelligence, like the computer model (mentioned below).   

[P]
> > If computer modeled, the cause is the modeler (programmer).

[H] 
> The rules are set by the programmer but what emerges is not planned. The
> interaction of the rules produces unpredictable results.

Exactly. Designed to be unpredictable.

[P]
> > Are you saying chance, as in chance mutations, plays no role in Darwinian
> > evolution? Without it, the whole theory collapses. 

[H] 
> Your original statement was not about mutation, it was the creationist slur
> that evolution by natural selection is no more than chance or 'Oops' as you
> like to say. This is a total and deliberate misinterpretation of evolution
> by natural selection.

My original statement was about chance in evolution. From Wikipedia on 
"evolution:"

"In biology, evolution is the change in a population's inherited traits 
from generation to generation. These traits are encoded as genes that are 
copied and passed on to offspring during reproduction. Mutations and other 
random changes in these genes can produce new or altered traits, resulting 
in heritable differences (genetic variation) between organisms. Evolution 
occurs when these differences become more common or rare in a population."

Note the phrase "random changes," i.e., chance. I know you know this, so 
I'm at a loss as to why you think I misrepresented anything. I'm sure you 
are familiar with the book on evolution by Nobel prize winner Jacques 
Monod, "Chance and Necessity."

Best regards,
Platt