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Evolution as a conceptual framework for understanding how complexity can emerge from simple feedback is relevant to many branches of science, including computer

Evolution as a conceptual framework for understanding how complexity can emerge from simple feedback is relevant to many branches of science, including computer science. Maybe I am really stretching, but if evolution wasn't real, then many machine learning algorithms wouldn't work.

thaumaturgy 14y ago
As a "science evangelist", you are really stretching. If you make arguments like that, you merely make it easier for others to dismiss you.
anamax 14y ago
> Maybe I am really stretching, but if evolution wasn't real, then many machine learning algorithms wouldn't work. You're really stretching. No one denies selective breeding. The evolution claim is much stronger, and isn't necessary for machine learning. Why would you make such an absurd claim?
- hermannj314 14y ago
  Evolutionary processes present themselves everywhere from political systems, social organization, genetic algorithms in computer science. If evolution doesn't exist, then why do we constantly see processes evolve based on a feedback cycle of constant experimentation, survival, failure, etc. Isn't that word evolution? Is there another word I am supposed to use? So I stand by what I said, if evolution isn't real (i.e. evolution doesn't happen) that all things are complex by-design, and never by uncontrolled processes of iteration and survival, if that is true, then evolutionary algorithms wouldn't work. Is that really absurd? What am I not getting?
  - anamax 14y ago
    > If evolution doesn't exist, then why do we constantly see processes evolve based on a feedback cycle of constant experimentation, survival, failure, etc. > Isn't that word evolution? No. As I wrote, evolution is a stronger claim. Evolution involves feedback but not all feedback is evolution. Many stable amplifier designs use feedback. Would you claim that the signal being amplified is evolving? As to man-made entities, yes, their designs are affected by feedback. However, they're also created. As I said, creationists believe in selective breeding. Their argument wrt evolution is wrt something else, so if you don't understand that.... > So I stand by what I said, if evolution isn't real (i.e. evolution doesn't happen) that all things are complex by-design, and never by uncontrolled processes of iteration and survival, if that is true, then evolutionary algorithms wouldn't work. You do know that you didn't say that above, right? However, I'll play along. Your new claim is wrong because algorithms with feedback can work even if evolution doesn't occur in the wild. As to your suggestion that evolution is involved in every complex system, I'll ask how stars evolved. They're very complex systems. There are lots of complex systems. Evolution only applies to the biological ones.
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thaumaturgy 14y ago

As a "science evangelist", you are really stretching. If you make arguments like that, you merely make it easier for others to dismiss you.

anamax 14y ago

> Maybe I am really stretching, but if evolution wasn't real, then many machine learning algorithms wouldn't work. You're really stretching. No one denies selective breeding. The evolution claim is much stronger, and isn't necessary for machine learning. Why would you make such an absurd claim?

hermannj314 14y ago
Evolutionary processes present themselves everywhere from political systems, social organization, genetic algorithms in computer science. If evolution doesn't exist, then why do we constantly see processes evolve based on a feedback cycle of constant experimentation, survival, failure, etc. Isn't that word evolution? Is there another word I am supposed to use? So I stand by what I said, if evolution isn't real (i.e. evolution doesn't happen) that all things are complex by-design, and never by uncontrolled processes of iteration and survival, if that is true, then evolutionary algorithms wouldn't work. Is that really absurd? What am I not getting?
- anamax 14y ago
  > If evolution doesn't exist, then why do we constantly see processes evolve based on a feedback cycle of constant experimentation, survival, failure, etc. > Isn't that word evolution? No. As I wrote, evolution is a stronger claim. Evolution involves feedback but not all feedback is evolution. Many stable amplifier designs use feedback. Would you claim that the signal being amplified is evolving? As to man-made entities, yes, their designs are affected by feedback. However, they're also created. As I said, creationists believe in selective breeding. Their argument wrt evolution is wrt something else, so if you don't understand that.... > So I stand by what I said, if evolution isn't real (i.e. evolution doesn't happen) that all things are complex by-design, and never by uncontrolled processes of iteration and survival, if that is true, then evolutionary algorithms wouldn't work. You do know that you didn't say that above, right? However, I'll play along. Your new claim is wrong because algorithms with feedback can work even if evolution doesn't occur in the wild. As to your suggestion that evolution is involved in every complex system, I'll ask how stars evolved. They're very complex systems. There are lots of complex systems. Evolution only applies to the biological ones.
  - deleted 14y ago
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