New Autonomous Systems

6Towards the Minimal Self of an Autonomous System

6.1. Introduction

In this chapter, we shall present the two major characteristics of our modeling by disclosing the architecture of a proto-self that intentionally generates representations of what the system apprehends and assesses under its tendencies. We shall thereafter present the precise architecture of a minimal self, the system being able to conceive that it manages representations on its own, perceives them, stores them in its organizational memory and can reuse them. Such a system comes very close to using the pronoun “I” in order to express how it forms a representation on its own.

6.2. The need for tendencies when leading the system

Defining tendencies in the interpretation system is essential for enabling the system’s autonomy in relation with a behavior based exclusively on cause and effect relations. Tendencies are meant to provide thematic freedom to the generations of representations, by extracting current intentions. Given its tendencies, the system will have a “certain behavioral type” within the set of systems that it will communicate with, including humans. The design of a system equipped with and submitting to tendencies is definitely not a neutral conceptual action. We can first state the founding principle of an autonomous system that will intend to conceive its representations and act according to its desires. It is a major principle, which makes a radical distinction between this type of system and ...