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Markov blankets and the preformationist assumption

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2022

Mads Dengsø Open the ORCID record for Mads Dengsø [Opens in a new window] ,
Ian Robertson Open the ORCID record for Ian Robertson [Opens in a new window]  and
Axel Constant
Mads Dengsø
Affiliation:
Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia madsdengsoe@gmail.com ianrob@uow.edu.au
Ian Robertson
Affiliation:
Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia madsdengsoe@gmail.com ianrob@uow.edu.au
Axel Constant
Affiliation:
Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia axel.constant.pruvost@gmail.com
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Abstract

Bruineberg and colleagues argue that a realist interpretation of Markov blankets inadvertently relies upon unfounded assumptions. However, insofar as their diagnosis is accurate, their prescribed instrumentalism may ultimately prove insufficient as a complete remedy. Drawing upon a process-based perspective on living systems, we suggest a potential way to avoid some of the assumptions behind problems described by Bruineberg and colleagues.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 45 , 2022 , e192
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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