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You are hereby invited to the ninth seminar in our new interdisciplinary series on Evolution, Complexity and Cognition (ECCO) <http://ecco.vub.ac.be> : Universal Selection Theory and the Evolution of Mathematics. Helen de Cruz (CLWF, VUB) Abstract: Some philosophers such as Lakatos, Kitcher and Muntersbjorn have characterized mathematics as an evolutionary process. However, they have not provided a mechanism to explain its evolutionary dynamics. In this talk, I argue that the evolution of mathematics follows the Darwinian algorithm of variation, selection and inheritance. I will illustrate this with examples from the history of mathematics. Variation is apparent in the proliferation of over one hundred numerical notation systems, only a fraction of which survives to date. Selective pressures are often extrinsic, as is shown by the development of descriptive geometry during the French revolution, which was fuelled by the French revolutionary governments' need for efficient and applicable geometry in its quest for better artillery and a more competitive technology. Intrinsic selective pressures are created by the mathematical community, as is illustrated by the early history of the calculus. This memetic approach explains adaptive design without an overall designer or plan. By describing mathematics as a somewhat myopic accumulation of favourable variations, it is not necessary to invoke an acausal mathematical realm situated outside of space-time to account for the applicability of mathematics. Mathematics is useful, because like other cultural artefacts, it has been gradually adapted to technology and science, and these in turn have adapted to fit mathematics' capacities. When? This Wednesday 14th March, 2-4 pm. Where? The seminar room is B 0.036 (building B, level 0, close to the human sciences computer rooms), on the VUB Campus Etterbeek. Coffee and drinks are available. Free entrance: everybody welcome! _____ Seminar Program for the coming weeks: Date Speaker Topic More Friday 23 Mar Arnold de Loof "Life": Compartmental Organization, Communication and Problem-Solving Activity. Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/node/2153> 28 Mar Mehmet Tezcan A complex systems critique to mainstream IR theory: A case study of foreign policy integration in Europe as a complex system Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1867> 4 Apr Klaas Chielens The Status of Memetics as a Science: update Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/node/2154> (the discussion link links to the abstract). _____ See and discuss the past seminars! Date Speaker Topic More 10 Jan Carlos Gershenson Towards Self-organizing Bureaucracies Presentation <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/SOBs-ECCO.pdf> Paper <http://uk.arxiv.org/abs/nlin.AO/0603045> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1657> 17 Jan Francis Heylighen Characteristics and Problems of the Gifted: neural propagation depth and flow motivation as a model of intelligence and creativity Presentation <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/Giftednessseminar.pdf> <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/Giftednessseminar.pdf> Paper Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1617> 25 Jan Jan Bernheim A Progressive Evolutionary Worldview Presentation <http://pcp.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/Bernheim2007.ppt> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1825> 31 Jan Clément Vidal A Minimal Philosophical Agenda. Worldview Construction as a Philosophical Method Presentation <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/%7Eclement/seminars2007/ecco-clem.ppt> Paper <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/%7Eclement/vidal2007-wp.pdf> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1660> 7 Feb Mixel Kiemen Complex-Adaptive information processing Presentation <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1661> Discussion 14 Feb Wim Christiaens Apostel's Concept of Causality: Defining Being by Folding "logic" on "life" Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1662> 21 Feb Dirk Kenis Knowledge Management in Virtual Communities: opportunities for Agile Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) Presentation <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/%7Eclement/seminars2007/ecco-kenis.pps> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1663> 28 Feb Erden Göktepe Mediating International Agents: a Question of Efficiency Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1664> Postponed! Karin Verelst Deixis and Truth from Aristotle to Poincaré Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/node/2152> More informations about the ECCO seminars: http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1666 (PDF <http://www.knosos.be/?q=system/files/ecco_seminars_2007_0.pdf> program with abstracts). Best regards, Clément Vidal. _________________________________ http://clement.vidal.philosophons.com <http://clement.vidal.philosophons.com/> Evolution, Complexity and Cognition research group, Free University of Brussels. Krijgskundestraat 33. B-1160 Brussels, Belgium. +32 (0) 2 640 67 37
