Symbol grounding: a bridge from artificial life, to artificial intelligence

Area of Science:

• Artificial Life (AL)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Philosophy of Mind
• Computational Theory

Background:

• The symbol-grounding problem in AI concerns how symbols acquire meaning.
• Artificial life (AL) research explores life's fundamental principles.
• John Searle's observer-relativity thesis challenges computational theories of mind.

Purpose of the Study:

• To connect AL's symbol-matter relation issues with AI's symbol-grounding problem.
• To investigate the role of formality and syntactic interpretability.
• To rebut Searle's observer-relativity thesis and challenge computationalism.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the DNA triplet-amino acid specification as a model system.
• Analyzing syntactic properties as emergent features of physical dynamical systems.
• Developing a theoretical framework linking syntax to non-syntactic interactions.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that syntactic properties can be grounded in physical dynamical systems.
• Provided a rebuttal to Searle's observer-relativity argument.
• Challenged the strong AL thesis of purely computational realizability of life.

Conclusions:

• Syntax can be objectively grounded in physical interactions, not merely observer-relative.
• Supports the autonomous systems approach in AL and AI.
• Suggests limitations to purely computational models of mind and life.