The development of Complex Emergent Modularity: A reply to Favela, Amon, & van Rooij (2018)

In our reply to Favela, Amon, & van Rooij (2018) we note points of agreement such as the necessity for the interaction between components in a system for it to be complex emergent and that the Dual Processes approach to human thinking has limitations. We also discuss several critical points of disagreement with the paper. We assert that Complex Emergent Modularity (CEM) does not proliferate the interaction problem but instead proposes a solution to the problem based on the contribution of the global workspace and the process of global broadcast. The nature of the entities which interact is described and emphasized as central to CEM theory.

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An emergence solution to the reasoning dual processes interaction problem

Theory & Psychology ◽

10.1177/0959354314533442 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 339-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Colin A. Wastell

Keyword(s):

Dual Processes ◽

Interaction Problem

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Global Workspace Theory and Animal Consciousness

Philosophical Topics ◽

10.5840/philtopics20204812 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 21-37

Author(s):

Jonathan Birch ◽

Keyword(s):

Healthy Adult ◽

Phenomenal Consciousness ◽

Double Standard ◽

Paradigm Case ◽

Animal Consciousness ◽

Future Developments ◽

Wide Range ◽

Global Workspace ◽

Global Broadcast ◽

Global Workspace Theory

Peter Carruthers has recently argued for a surprising conditional: if a global workspace theory of phenomenal consciousness is both correct and fully reductive, then there are no substantive facts to discover about phenomenal consciousness in nonhuman animals. I present two problems for this conditional. First, it rests on an odd double-standard about the ordinary concept of phenomenal consciousness: its intuitive non-gradability is taken to be unchallengeable by future scientific developments, whereas its intuitive determinacy is predicted to fall by the wayside. Second, it relies on dismissing, prematurely, the live empirical possibility that phenomenal consciousness may be linked to a core global broadcast mechanism that is (determinately) shared by a wide range of animals. Future developments in the science of consciousness may lead us to reconsider the non-gradability of phenomenal consciousness, but they are unlikely to lead us to accept that there are no facts to discover outside the paradigm case of a healthy adult human.

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The relationship of the scleractinian corals to the rugose corals

Paleobiology ◽

10.1017/s0094837300025707 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 6 (02) ◽

pp. 146-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

William A. Oliver

Keyword(s):

Critical Points ◽

Scleractinian Corals ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Early Triassic ◽

Rugose Corals ◽

History Of ◽

The Subject ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Biologic Factors

The Mesozoic-Cenozoic coral Order Scleractinia has been suggested to have originated or evolved (1) by direct descent from the Paleozoic Order Rugosa or (2) by the development of a skeleton in members of one of the anemone groups that probably have existed throughout Phanerozoic time. In spite of much work on the subject, advocates of the direct descent hypothesis have failed to find convincing evidence of this relationship. Critical points are:(1) Rugosan septal insertion is serial; Scleractinian insertion is cyclic; no intermediate stages have been demonstrated. Apparent intermediates are Scleractinia having bilateral cyclic insertion or teratological Rugosa.(2) There is convincing evidence that the skeletons of many Rugosa were calcitic and none are known to be or to have been aragonitic. In contrast, the skeletons of all living Scleractinia are aragonitic and there is evidence that fossil Scleractinia were aragonitic also. The mineralogic difference is almost certainly due to intrinsic biologic factors.(3) No early Triassic corals of either group are known. This fact is not compelling (by itself) but is important in connection with points 1 and 2, because, given direct descent, both changes took place during this only stage in the history of the two groups in which there are no known corals.

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