your analysis of causal emergence is of great importance for understanding of complex cognitive systems. I have just realized that a similar phenomenon is known in quantum mechanics: the best possible knowledge of the states of the whole system is not sufficient to have the best possible knowledge of all parts of the system, and vice versa, perfect knowledge of all parts does not imply perfect knowledge of the whole system.
My paper is now 33 years old, and written from quite different perspective. I have almost forgotten about my work in quantum mechanics, but you may find some analogies and conclusions interesting. Causal emergence seems to be common in quantum as well as classical complex systems.
Duch, W. (1989). Schrödinger’s thoughts on perfect knowledge. In: The concept of probability. Ed. Bitsakis EI and Nicolaides CA (pp. 5–14). Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Wish I had more time to get a better grasp of your theory! If my questions totally miss the point, feel free to tell me. Here goes:
Does your theory of causal emergence have any connection to the concept of downward causation? Or is downward causation a "spooky" idea--i.e. does it require strong emergence?
Secondly, does your theory have any conceptual connection with the "integrated information" of IIT? That is, if the higher-level causal relationships are stronger than the lower-level ones, is that at all similar to the idea information being more integrated for a whole than for any of its parts?
Dear Eric,
your analysis of causal emergence is of great importance for understanding of complex cognitive systems. I have just realized that a similar phenomenon is known in quantum mechanics: the best possible knowledge of the states of the whole system is not sufficient to have the best possible knowledge of all parts of the system, and vice versa, perfect knowledge of all parts does not imply perfect knowledge of the whole system.
My paper is now 33 years old, and written from quite different perspective. I have almost forgotten about my work in quantum mechanics, but you may find some analogies and conclusions interesting. Causal emergence seems to be common in quantum as well as classical complex systems.
Duch, W. (1989). Schrödinger’s thoughts on perfect knowledge. In: The concept of probability. Ed. Bitsakis EI and Nicolaides CA (pp. 5–14). Kluwer Academic Publishers.
https://fizyka.umk.pl/publications/kmk/89-Schrodinger.html
Regards, Wlodek Duch
Google: Wlodzislaw Duch
Wish I had more time to get a better grasp of your theory! If my questions totally miss the point, feel free to tell me. Here goes:
Does your theory of causal emergence have any connection to the concept of downward causation? Or is downward causation a "spooky" idea--i.e. does it require strong emergence?
Secondly, does your theory have any conceptual connection with the "integrated information" of IIT? That is, if the higher-level causal relationships are stronger than the lower-level ones, is that at all similar to the idea information being more integrated for a whole than for any of its parts?