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  1. Home
  3. The Emperor's New Markov Blankets.
  1. Home
  3. The Emperor's New Markov Blankets.

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The Emperor's New Markov Blankets.

Jelle Bruineberg1, Krzysztof Dołęga2, Joe Dewhurst3

  • 1Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australiajelle.bruineberg@mq.edu.au.

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|October 22, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This paper distinguishes between "Pearl blankets" for Bayesian inference and "Friston blankets" for metaphysical claims in the free energy principle. It clarifies Markov blanket usage in neuroscience and philosophy.

Keywords:
Bayesian inferenceMarkov blanketsactive inferencefree energy principlescientific realism

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Area of Science:

  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Theoretical Neurobiology
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • The free energy principle posits that living systems minimize variational free energy for adaptive environmental exchange.
  • Markov blankets are key constructs in the free energy principle, recently applied to philosophical debates like mind-body demarcation.
  • Existing literature shows confusion between the epistemic use of Markov blankets in Bayesian inference and their metaphysical use in defining agent boundaries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolution of Markov blankets from Bayesian networks to active inference.
  • To differentiate the formal epistemic use of Markov blankets from their metaphysical application in the free energy principle.
  • To critically evaluate philosophical claims based on Markov blankets by distinguishing research programs.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of Markov blanket applications.
  • Conceptual distinction between epistemic and metaphysical uses of Markov blankets.
  • Critical assessment of philosophical arguments leveraging Markov blankets.

Main Results:

  • Identified a persistent confusion regarding Markov blankets' dual roles: as an epistemic tool and a metaphysical construct.
  • Proposed distinct terminology: "Pearl blankets" for epistemic use and "Friston blankets" for metaphysical use.
  • Highlighted that metaphysical claims require additional philosophical premises beyond the mathematical framework.

Conclusions:

  • The distinction between "Pearl blankets" and "Friston blankets" clarifies the application of Markov blankets in computational neuroscience and philosophy.
  • Philosophical applications of Markov blankets necessitate differentiating between "inference with a model" and "inference within a model."
  • Metaphysical claims using Markov blankets are only justifiable within an "inference within a model" framework, requiring explicit philosophical assumptions.