The ultimate future of Artificial The ultimate future of Artificial Life: Towards Artificial Life: Towards Artificial

CosmogenesisCosmogenesis

Clément VidalClément VidalVrije Universiteit Brussel Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Centrum Leo Apostel (CLEA)Centrum Leo Apostel (CLEA)Evolution, Complexity and Cognition (ECCO)Evolution, Complexity and Cognition (ECCO)

http://clement.vidal.philosophons.comhttp://clement.vidal.philosophons.com

OutlineOutline

Simulating an entire universeSimulating an entire universe Increase of computational resourcesIncrease of computational resources Bridging physical, biological and cultural Bridging physical, biological and cultural

evolutionevolution Replaying the « tape of the universe »Replaying the « tape of the universe » Simulation or realization?Simulation or realization?

Cosmic perspectiveCosmic perspective Heat death problemHeat death problem Philosophical approachPhilosophical approach From Cosmological Natural Selection to From Cosmological Natural Selection to

Cosmological Artificial Selection.Cosmological Artificial Selection.

IntroductionIntroduction

IntroductionIntroduction

Cosmic evolution gave rise to living Cosmic evolution gave rise to living organisms capable of reverse organisms capable of reverse engineering the process that gave rise engineering the process that gave rise to them. to them.

What is the future of ALife (and What is the future of ALife (and generally simulations in science) generally simulations in science) considering a cosmological time-scale? considering a cosmological time-scale?

Simulating an entire Simulating an entire universeuniverse

Increase of computational resourcesIncrease of computational resources Bridging physical, biological and cultural evolutionBridging physical, biological and cultural evolution Replaying the « tape of the universe »Replaying the « tape of the universe » Simulation or realization?Simulation or realization?

Increase of computational Increase of computational resourcesresources

Externalization of Externalization of memorymemory WritingWriting

Externalization of Externalization of computingcomputing Computing devicesComputing devices

Moore’s lawMoore’s law the number of the number of

transistors doubles transistors doubles every 18 months on a every 18 months on a single microprocessor single microprocessor

Increase in processing Increase in processing speed and memory speed and memory capacity capacity

Limit : black hole Limit : black hole “computer” “computer” (Lloyd 2000, Kurzweil (Lloyd 2000, Kurzweil 2006)2006)

More general trendMore general trend

Chaisson (2001, 2003) Chaisson (2001, 2003) thermodynamically grounded thermodynamically grounded quantitative metric for complex quantitative metric for complex systems.systems.

Free energy rate densityFree energy rate density (noted Φ(noted Φmm) ) rate at which free energy transits in a rate at which free energy transits in a

complex system of a given mass. complex system of a given mass. Dimension: energy per time per mass (erg Dimension: energy per time per mass (erg

ss-1-1 g g-1-1) )

Bridging physical, biological Bridging physical, biological and cultural evolutionand cultural evolution

First challenge for ALifeFirst challenge for ALife

digital universe simulating this rise of digital universe simulating this rise of levels of complexity in the physical, levels of complexity in the physical, biological, and cultural realms. biological, and cultural realms. (conceptual and methodological problems (conceptual and methodological problems here). here).

In short, this is the challenge of In short, this is the challenge of simulating an entire universe. simulating an entire universe.

Replaying the Replaying the « tape of the universe »« tape of the universe »

““what would remain the same if the tape what would remain the same if the tape of the universe were replayed?”of the universe were replayed?”Paraphrasing (Gould 1990) Paraphrasing (Gould 1990)

Research program for the fine-tuning Research program for the fine-tuning problem in cosmologyproblem in cosmology if any of a number of parameters, fundamental if any of a number of parameters, fundamental

constants in physics and also initial conditions constants in physics and also initial conditions in cosmology were slightly different, no in cosmology were slightly different, no complexity of any sort would come into complexity of any sort would come into existence existence

Simulation or realization?Simulation or realization?"The intent of this work is to synthesize "The intent of this work is to synthesize

rather than simulate life." rather than simulate life." Thomas (Ray 1992, 372)Thomas (Ray 1992, 372)

Traditional-like simulations Traditional-like simulations OUR real-world is modelledOUR real-world is modelled Better predictions/understandingBetter predictions/understanding

ALife-like simulationsALife-like simulations A new digital-world is created and A new digital-world is created and

exploredexplored Is it realization? Open debate. (Pattee Is it realization? Open debate. (Pattee

1995). 1995).

Cosmic perspectiveCosmic perspective

Heat death problemHeat death problem Philosophical approachPhilosophical approach From Cosmological Natural Selection to From Cosmological Natural Selection to Cosmological Artificial Selection.Cosmological Artificial Selection.

The heat death problem The heat death problem (HD)(HD)

Second law of thermodynamicsSecond law of thermodynamics the entropy of an isolated system will tend to the entropy of an isolated system will tend to

increase over time increase over time Application to the universeApplication to the universe

the universe will irreversibly go towards a the universe will irreversibly go towards a state of maximum entropy. Helmholtz in 1854.state of maximum entropy. Helmholtz in 1854.

No possibility of infinite continuation of No possibility of infinite continuation of life.life. Field of physical eschatology (Ćirković 2003)Field of physical eschatology (Ćirković 2003)

Darwin’s viewDarwin’s view

“ “ Believing as I do that Believing as I do that man in the distant man in the distant future will be a far future will be a far more perfect creature more perfect creature than he now is, it is an than he now is, it is an intolerable thought intolerable thought that he and all other that he and all other sentient beings are sentient beings are doomed to complete doomed to complete annihilation after such annihilation after such long-continued slow long-continued slow progress” progress”

(Darwin 1887, 70). (Darwin 1887, 70).

Philosophical approachPhilosophical approach

What is the ultimate fate of What is the ultimate fate of humanity and the universe in the humanity and the universe in the very distant future? very distant future?

speculativespeculative philosophical approach philosophical approach (Broad 1924); (Vidal 2007) for a (Broad 1924); (Vidal 2007) for a method. method. No unambiguous empirical or experimental No unambiguous empirical or experimental

supportsupport ambitious question, the proposed answer ambitious question, the proposed answer

can only be tentative and speculative. can only be tentative and speculative.

From Cosmological Natural From Cosmological Natural Selection to Cosmological Selection to Cosmological

Artificial Selection.Artificial Selection. Cosmological natural selection (CNS) as an Cosmological natural selection (CNS) as an

attempt to solve the fine-tuning problemattempt to solve the fine-tuning problem

VARIATION: Black holes give birth to new VARIATION: Black holes give birth to new universes by producing the equivalent of a Big universes by producing the equivalent of a Big Bang, which produces a baby universe with Bang, which produces a baby universe with slightly different physical laws and constants. slightly different physical laws and constants.

SELECTION: The differential success in self-SELECTION: The differential success in self-reproduction of universes via their black holes.reproduction of universes via their black holes.

Limitations of Smolin’s Limitations of Smolin’s theorytheory

Life’s role in the universe is incidental.Life’s role in the universe is incidental.

The physical laws aren’t fine-tuned to The physical laws aren’t fine-tuned to maximize black hole production. maximize black hole production. (Rees 1997, p251), quoted in (Gardner 2003, (Rees 1997, p251), quoted in (Gardner 2003, p84)p84)

No mechanism of heredity. (Gardner 2003, No mechanism of heredity. (Gardner 2003, p84)p84)

Cosmological Artificial Cosmological Artificial SelectionSelection

VARIATION: Different simulations of VARIATION: Different simulations of entire universes. entire universes.

SELECTION: Artificial selection of the SELECTION: Artificial selection of the suitable simulated universes. suitable simulated universes.

From simulation to realizationFrom simulation to realization(very speculative topic!)(very speculative topic!)

Realization is here Realization is here the reproduction of the reproduction of the universe.the universe. Black holes are Black holes are

good candidates for good candidates for universe universe reproduction reproduction (ultimate (ultimate computing device)computing device)

Evolutionary DevelopmentalEvolutionary Developmental Universe Universe

Example: Body / Germline analogy Example: Body / Germline analogy (Smart 2008)(Smart 2008)

BiologyBiology: The body dies, not the germline : The body dies, not the germline (DNA), which is passed on to the (DNA), which is passed on to the offspring.offspring.

CosmologyCosmology: the universe dies (HD), not : the universe dies (HD), not its germline (“laws of nature”) which are its germline (“laws of nature”) which are

First deciphered by intelligent life First deciphered by intelligent life (phenomenon of science)(phenomenon of science)

Then passed on via intelligent life to an Then passed on via intelligent life to an offspring universe. offspring universe.

Much more to explore…Much more to explore…

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention !attention !

Questions are welcome now or laterQuestions are welcome now or later

clement.vidal@philosophons.comclement.vidal@philosophons.com

DiscussionDiscussion

Exploring Chaisson’s Exploring Chaisson’s curvecurve Big Bang dataBig Bang data

U curve? EDU analogy?U curve? EDU analogy? Moore’s lawMoore’s law Predict artificial Predict artificial

cosmogenesis?cosmogenesis? Contact me if interested Contact me if interested

in these projects! in these projects!

Evo Devo UniverseEvo Devo Universe

Research communityResearch community

Conference in Paris 8-9 Conference in Paris 8-9 October 2008October 2008

www.evodevouniverse.com

BibliographyBibliography

Broad, C. D. 1924. Critical and Speculative Philosophy. Broad, C. D. 1924. Critical and Speculative Philosophy. Contemporary British philosophy: Personal Contemporary British philosophy: Personal statementsstatements: 75-100. http://www.ditext.com/broad/csp.html. : 75-100. http://www.ditext.com/broad/csp.html.

Chaisson, E. J. 2001. Chaisson, E. J. 2001. Cosmic Evolution: The Rise of Complexity in NatureCosmic Evolution: The Rise of Complexity in Nature. Harvard University Press, . Harvard University Press, October 15. October 15.

---. 2003. A unifying concept for astrobiology. ---. 2003. A unifying concept for astrobiology. International Journal of AstrobiologyInternational Journal of Astrobiology 2, no. 02: 91-101. 2, no. 02: 91-101. http://www.tufts.edu/as/wright_center/eric/reprints/unifying_concept_astrobio.pdf. http://www.tufts.edu/as/wright_center/eric/reprints/unifying_concept_astrobio.pdf.

Ćirković, M. M. 2003. Resource Letter: PEs-1: Physical eschatology. Ćirković, M. M. 2003. Resource Letter: PEs-1: Physical eschatology. American Journal of PhysicsAmerican Journal of Physics 71: 71: 122. http://www.aob.bg.ac.yu/~mcirkovic/Cirkovic03_RESOURCE_LETTER.pdf. 122. http://www.aob.bg.ac.yu/~mcirkovic/Cirkovic03_RESOURCE_LETTER.pdf.

Darwin, Charles. 1887. Darwin, Charles. 1887. The Autobiography of Charles DarwinThe Autobiography of Charles Darwin. Barnes & NoblePublishing (2005). . Barnes & NoblePublishing (2005). Gardner, J. N. 2003. Gardner, J. N. 2003. Biocosm. The New Scientific Theory of Evolution: Intelligent Life is the Architect Biocosm. The New Scientific Theory of Evolution: Intelligent Life is the Architect

of the Universe.of the Universe. Inner Ocean Publishing. Inner Ocean Publishing. Kurzweil, R. 2006. Kurzweil, R. 2006. The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend BiologyThe Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. Penguin Books. . Penguin Books. Lloyd, S. 2000. Ultimate physical limits to computation. Lloyd, S. 2000. Ultimate physical limits to computation. NatureNature 406: 1047-1054. 406: 1047-1054.

http://www.hep.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/QM/lloyd_nature_406_1047_00.pdf. http://www.hep.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/QM/lloyd_nature_406_1047_00.pdf. Pattee, H. H. 1995. Artificial Life Needs a Real Epistemology. Pattee, H. H. 1995. Artificial Life Needs a Real Epistemology. Advances in Artificial Life: Third Advances in Artificial Life: Third

European Conference on Artificial Life, Granada, Spain, June 4-6, 1995: ProceedingsEuropean Conference on Artificial Life, Granada, Spain, June 4-6, 1995: Proceedings . . http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/rd/24547766%2C524075%2C1%2C0.25%2CDownload/http://http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/rd/24547766%2C524075%2C1%2C0.25%2CDownload/http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/cache/papers/cs/12112/citeseer.ist.psu.edu/cache/papers/cs/12112/http:zSzzSzwww.ssie.binghamton.eduzSzpatteezSzaepistem.pdf/pattee95artificial.pdf. http:zSzzSzwww.ssie.binghamton.eduzSzpatteezSzaepistem.pdf/pattee95artificial.pdf.

Rees, M. J. 1997. Rees, M. J. 1997. Before the Beginning: Our Universe and OthersBefore the Beginning: Our Universe and Others. Perseus Books. . Perseus Books. Smart, John. 2008. Evo Devo Universe? A Framework for Speculations on Cosmic Culture. In Smart, John. 2008. Evo Devo Universe? A Framework for Speculations on Cosmic Culture. In Cosmos Cosmos

and Cultureand Culture, ed. S. J. Dick. To appear. , ed. S. J. Dick. To appear. Vidal, Clement. 2007. An Enduring Philosophical Agenda. Worldview Construction as a Philosophical Vidal, Clement. 2007. An Enduring Philosophical Agenda. Worldview Construction as a Philosophical

Method. Method. Submitted for publicationSubmitted for publication (February). http://cogprints.org/6048/. (February). http://cogprints.org/6048/.