Functionalism

Why We Always Evolve Eyes

Why We Always Evolve Eyes

Professor Chris Kempes of the Santa Fe Institute proposes a universal theory of life that transcends Earth-based biochemistry. He introduces a three-level framework (Materials, Constraints, Principles) to explain how abstract rules like evolution could define life on any substrate, including culture, language, or artificial intelligence, leading to the concept of convergent evolution where similar solutions, like the eye, emerge independently across different physical forms.

Google Researcher Proves Life Emerges From Code

Google Researcher Proves Life Emerges From Code

Blaise Agüera y Arcas presents a computational theory of life and intelligence, arguing they are fundamentally the same. He posits that evolution's complexity arises not from random mutation but from merging and symbiosis (symbiogenesis), a process mirrored in technology and collective intelligence. This functionalist perspective suggests consciousness is a mechanism for cooperation and that AI is not an alien "other" but an extension of humanity's existing collective intelligence.