Detecting Volition in design
From ResearchID.org
A minimum level of Volition can be detected empirically and quantitatively measured by counting the number and variety of interrelated, interdependent, coordinated objects and sub-systems that are present in a irreducibly complex system. Since each part or sub-system requires extrapolating models of future conditions and positions, choices of models that fulfill hierarchical goals and purposes are clearly indicated by how wide the variety of functions and high levels of understanding are required to achieve higher level goals and purposes.
Variety can be quantified
"according to different distributions, for example probabilistic entropies and possibilistic nonspecificities. Under a stochastic formulation, there is a particularly interesting isomorphism between the LRV, the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, and Shannon's 10th Theorem." The Law of Requisite Variety
Any goal directed process like object design uses the same feedback control system model that is covered by the laws of cybernetics. The first living cell required at least two protein objects to arise at the same place and time, interact in a coordinated manner such that each object would arrive at a future position or condition that meets a common functional goal. This is what irreducible complexity is all about. Please look at the example that they give here:
“For example, a thermostat will map the perception "temperature too low" to the action "heat", and the perception "temperature high enough" to the action "do not heat". Such knowledge can also be expressed as a set of production rules of the form "if condition (perceived disturbance), then action". This "knowledge" is embodied in different systems in different ways, for example through the specific ways designers have connected the components in artificial systems, or in organisms through evolved structures such as genes or learned connections between neurons as in the brain. In the absence of such knowledge, the system would have to try out actions blindly, until one would by chance eliminate the perturbation. The larger the variety of disturbances (and therefore of requisite actions), the smaller the likelihood that a randomly selected action would achieve the goal, and thus ensure the survival of the system. Therefore, increasing the variety of actions must be accompanied by increasing the constraint or selectivity in choosing the appropriate action, that is, increasing knowledge. This requirement may be called the law of requisite knowledge. Since all living organisms are also control systems, life therefore implies knowledge, as in Maturana's often quoted statement that "to live is to cognize"." The Law of Requisite Knowledge
So, since the variety of options for each protein object, as well as, for each mapped action is unlimited, then how can any irreducibly complex system ever arise without volition to limit the available choices to a finite number of options?
Variety
"The word variety, in relation to a set of distinguishable elements, will be used to mean either (i) the number of distinct elements, or (ii) the logarithm to the base 2 of the number, the context indicating the sense used. When variety is measured in the logarithmic form its unit is the “bit”, a contraction of “BInary digiT”. Thus the variety of the sexes is 1 bit, and the variety of the 52 playing cards is 5.7 bits, because log2 52 = 3.322 log1052 = 3.322 x 1.7160 = 5.7. The chief advantage of this way of reckoning is that multiplicative combinations now combine by simple addition. " AN INTRODUCTION TO CYBERNETICS by W. ROSS ASHBY
Constraint
And here is what Ashby had to say about constraint:
"A most important concept, with which we shall be much concerned later, is that of constraint. It is a relation between two sets, and occurs when the variety that exists under one condition is less than the variety that exists under another. ... A constraint may be slight or severe. Suppose, for instance, that a squad of soldiers is to be drawn up in a single rank, and that “independence” means that they may stand in any order they please. Various constraints might be placed on the order of standing, and these constraints may differ in their degree of restriction. Thus, if the order were given that no man may stand next a man whose birthday falls on the same day, the constraint would be slight, for of all the possible arrangements few would be excluded. If, however, the order were given that no man was to stand at the left of a man who was taller than himself, the constraint would be severe; for it would, in fact, allow only one order of standing (unless two men were of exactly the same height). The intensity of the constraint is thus shown by the reduction it causes in the number of possible arrangements."
Therefore, just as the intensity of the constraint is shown by the reduction it causes in the number of possible arrangements, the intensity level of volition detected in a designed system is directly related to the sum of intensity of constraint shown in each part of an irreducibly complex system like we see in gene expression. So this is an empirical means of detecting and measuring volition in designed objects.
Example of detecting volition in designed objects
Back to Defining Intelligence: Volition
