Forms of life, forms of mind

Dr. Michael Levin

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A talk on the architecture of life

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Mike Levin

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I recently gave a long presentation to the Wolfram Institute titled “Self-constructing bodies, collective minds: unconventional biology, minimal models of intelligence, bio-inspired computing”. It contains ideas about the amazing architecture of biology (and how it differs from today’s computational systems). Focusing on morphogenesis as a model of collective cognition, I talk about the intelligence ratchet that results from life’s need to creatively interpret information on the cognitive, developmental, and evolutionary scale. I end with some new, speculative ideas about Platonic space and cognitive patterns therein, which radically enlarge the continuum of agential beings. Here’s my recording of the presentation (about an hour and 10 minutes long):

And here is the Q&A session afterward:

Image shown over the Q&A is by the remarkable Nicholas Roerich.

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9 responses to “A talk on the architecture of life”

  1. Zkzk Avatar
    Zkzk

    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  2. Benjamin L Avatar
    Benjamin L

    On the subject of ingress and Platonic spaces, some of the ideas there feel like they’re in tension with other ideas about polycomputation and non-stored memories. Why would mathematical rules and other Platonic concepts just be waiting somewhere in the form that they have when properties in our world never are?

    But for an incredibly vague idea of where the ingress comes from, and what it might mean to explore that space, check out my essay on getting something from everything: https://interestingessays.substack.com/p/why-is-there-something-rather-than

    Reply
    1. Mike Levin Avatar
      Mike Levin

      You are right that there is some tension here, I’m working on that. I think it’s ok that there are forms hanging out in ways that are totally different than what happens in the physical world, that doesn’t bother me, but the observer-relative aspect of polycomputing isn’t immediately compatible, it needs some work. Thanks for the link – looks like a very interesting post.

      Reply
      1. Benjamin L Avatar
        Benjamin L

        See here for some connections to dynamic systems theory: https://interestingessays.substack.com/p/pointers-as-generalizations-of-talk

        Reply
  3. Micah Zoltu Avatar
    Micah Zoltu

    I wonder if it is possible to have an AI watch all of your videos and give a diff of this video compared to previous. I have watched almost every presentation you have given, but at this point I could probably give most of it myself and I feel like I should spend my time doing something else besides watching the latest, yet I worry I’ll miss some new little nugget that you included in this one but not previous ones.

    🤔

    Reply
    1. Mike Levin Avatar
      Mike Levin

      I have a few different talks – focused on biomedicine, evolution, bioengineering, genetics, computation, diverse intelligence, or consciousness. They have a bit of overlap of some data, but overall tell quite distinct stories. Within each category, it’s true that sometimes the talks are minor tweaks of prior ones (I’m always trying to improve the graphics and the explanations between the slides of the whole story, to make sense to people of different backgrounds). But sometimes significant things get added. For example, the recent talks (like the one on computation at UNAM, the one for the consciousness meeting in Cancun, and the one for the Wolfram Institute) all have a significantly new part (the last third or so) on Platonic space and patterns and such which I have not talked about prior to a month or so ago.

      Reply
  4. Brian Shepard Avatar
    Brian Shepard

    Such an impressive presentation. Your focus and passion comes through. Amazing slides!

    Reply
  5. Elisabeth Avatar
    Elisabeth

    Thank you Michael and team – I have written before about my experience in a new cognitive space while under the influence of DMT.
    Terrace McKenna’s last interview was very good at predicting the very things you are studying.
    His brother is still alive and a respected chemist.
    He ( Terrance) also explored the cognitive realms engaged when using DMT – my point is, there lies a way of exploring the very nature of our nature within the consciousness of our own minds/bodies that are filled not only with incredible patterns but also creatures that literally live within those spaces…. before you die Michael I implore you to take the journey into this realm…just for the fun of it ….mind blowing doesn’t even begin to describe that space.
    I live near your friend Dr Iain McGilchrist on Skye come visit!

    Reply
  6. Fredric Schiffer, MD Avatar
    Fredric Schiffer, MD

    Hi Michael, I’ve followed your work for about 15 years and, of course, it is brilliant. Thank you. I am a psychiatrist at Harvard at McLean doing research and have a private practice. I have a theory of psychology that comes out of the split brain studies and have found that in typical people there are two minds each associated with each hemisphere. One is often more affected by past traumas and the other healthier. I have 2 books on Amazon and about 25 papers on this. My feeling is that first comes life, then subjective experience. Living things seem to be compelled to try to keep living. Life doesn’t seem to have morality or care whether humans or cockroaches survive. Suicide and disease from failure show that life can be unbearably cruel as well as delightful and fulfilling. Your point on aging being related to boredom is interesting. From life comes subjective experience. I have some papers on subjective experience and life being possibly related to undiscovered quantum fields, which I believe could eventually be discovered. If you’re interested, I would love to meet.

    Reply

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