Commentary on Cognitive science as a theory of living systems: On the philosophy of subtraction and contraction

Abstract

Research on Alife, as described by Ikegami, is compared with research on AI, as described by Nakashima. Similarity:They are both based on constructive methodology. They both treats interaction with the environment. Ikegami forms his claim around Meillassoux' s subtracton and contraction. However, I claim the direction of the description is wrong. I favor Uexküll' s concept of Umwelt, which describes the same phenomena from the opposite direction. Difference: ALife seeks for life; AI seeks for intelligence. As the result, ALife creates entities with System 1 intelligence (as described by Kahneman), while AI creates programs with System 2 intelligence. When we talk about life, its survival is essential, which is provided by System 1.