Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
related 2.00 — strongly supporting 8 facts
The pathological complexity thesis defines the function of consciousness as a mechanism for agents to navigate economic trade-offs [1], establishes a framework for the scientific study of consciousness [2], and posits that subjective experiences are subservient to the evaluative role of consciousness in action [3].
Facts (8)
Sources
Complexity and the Evolution of Consciousness | Biological Theory link.springer.com 8 facts
claimThe pathological complexity thesis asserts that the function of consciousness is to enable an agent to respond to pathological complexity, which is defined as the economic trade-off problem organisms face when pursuing the teleonomic goal of maximizing fitness.
claimThe author uses the term "pathological complexity" to emphasize that understanding life history trade-offs is essential for distinguishing between healthy and pathological trait variations, including variations of consciousness within and across species.
claimThe function of consciousness is to enable the agent to respond to pathological complexity.
quoteVeit proposes that consciousness arose as a means for organisms to deal with what he calls pathological complexity. We assume that what he has in mind is the kind of complexity that arises in coevolution and evolutionary arms races, say of the predator–prey kind, which became acute with the evolution of large, image-forming eyes, hence his reference to the Cambrian Explosion. (Merker et al. 2022, p. 55)
claimThe 'pathological complexity thesis' posits that the diversity of subjective experiences is subservient to evaluation, as consciousness is discharged in action.
claimThe pathological complexity thesis aims to transform the concept of negative valence enabling adaptive behavior into a precise scientific hypothesis and a framework for ethological studies of consciousness.
claimConsciousness is an adaptive solution to the economic trade-off problem of managing a complex body with high degrees of freedom, a problem the author terms 'pathological complexity'. This design problem led to the extinction of complex multicellular animal life following the Avalon explosion and was subsequently solved during the Cambrian explosion.
claimConsciousness is an evaluative and goal-directed way of engaging with the world that evolved within the context of life to respond to pathological complexity.