From Complexity to Creativity

Cybernetic pioneer Warren McCullough asked: "What is a man, that he may know a number; and what is a number, that a man may know it?" Thinking along much the same lines, my question here is: "What is a creative mind, that it might emerge from a complex system; and what is a complex system, that it might give rise to a creative mind?" Complexity science is a fashionable topic these days. My perspective on complexity, however, is a somewhat unusual one: I am interested in complex systems science principally as it reflects on abstract mathematical, computational models of mind. In my three previous books, The Structure of Intelligence, Evolving Mind, and Chaotic Logic, I have outlined a comprehensive complex-systems-theoretic theory of mind that I now call the psynet model. This book is a continuation of the research program presented in my previous books (and those books will be frequently referred to here, by the nicknames EM and CL). One might summarize the trajectory of thought spanning these four books as follows. SI formulated a philosophy and mathem- ics of mind, based on theoretical computer science and the concept of "pattern. " EM analyzed the theory of evolution by natural selection in similar terms, and used this computational theory of evolution to establish the evolutionary nature of thought.

Klappentext

This groundbreaking text applies the concepts of complexity science to provide a unified scientific explanation of all aspects of human creativity. The book clearly describes the psynet model-a novel complex-systems theory-that integrates ideas from computer science, mathematics, neurobiology, philosophy, and cognitive and personality psychology. Goertzel shows how common computer science algorithms, such as neural nets and genetic algorithms, fit into the mental and creative process, and proposes that the understanding of mathematics must be extended to successfully deal with the mind's workings.

Inhalt
The Complex Mind-Brain.- Dynamics, Evolution, Autopoiesis.- The Psynet Model.- A Theory of Cortical Dynamics.- Perception and Mindspace Curvature.- Formal Tools for Exploring Complexity.- Dynamics and Pattern.- Evolution and Dynamics.- Magician Systems and Abstract Algebras.- Mathematical Structures in the Mind.- The Structure of Consciousness.- Fractals and Sentence Production.- Dream Dynamics.- Artificial Selfhood.- The World Wide Brain.- The Dynamics of Self and Creativity.- Subself Dynamics.- Aspects of Human Personality Dynamics.- On the Dynamics of Creativity.