Maps and territories, smoke, and mirrors

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Science
• Computational Neuroscience
• Information Theory

Background:

• The authors address philosophical and technical questions regarding Markov blankets.
• Distinguishing between different conceptualizations of Markov blankets is crucial for advancing theoretical frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate between Judea Pearl's and Karl Friston's conceptualizations of Markov blankets.
• To explore whether Markov blankets are employed in an ontological context.
• To investigate the existence and implications of a privileged Markov blanket.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of existing theories.
• Comparative analysis of Markov blanket definitions.
• Philosophical argumentation.

Main Results:

• Pearl's and Friston's Markov blankets represent distinct theoretical constructs.
• Markov blankets can be interpreted ontologically, referring to the boundaries of systems.
• The concept of a privileged Markov blanket is explored, with implications for system definition.

Conclusions:

• Clarifies the nature and application of Markov blankets in different scientific domains.
• Highlights the importance of precise definitions in theoretical science.
• Provides a framework for understanding system boundaries and information flow.