Three Philosophers & a Mathematician Join Together to Study Goal-Directed Behavior in Collective Entities
A $600,000 grant was awarded to a team of researchers to study “The Emergence and Evolution of Goal-Directed Behavior in Collective Entities.”
Led by philosopher Derek Skillings (University of North Carolina, Greensboro), the team also includes Benjamin Allen (Mathematics, Emmanuel College), Patrick Forber (Philosophy, Tufts University), and Rory Smead (Philosophy, Northeastern University).
Derek Skillings, Benjamin Allen, Patrick Forber, Rory Smead
The research will focus on holobionts or “superorganisms”—host organisms and the things that live inside of them and on them. Traditional examples of holobionts are coral reefs or lichens, though some have argued that humans and many other organisms are better understood as holobionts. Professor Skillings says that “We used to think these… amalgamations of symbioses were the exception in nature. But now we are realizing no, actually, it’s probably everything.”
The grant, which will support the project for three years, is from the John Templeton Foundation. The project will involve research, workshops, and a conference this summer.
Related: We Are Not Human Individuals
No biologists???????? Really?
Philosophers and mathematicians always forget biological researchers they need a interdisciplinary researcher ideally, in genetics, neuroscience and biotech. This research sounds interesting to ill follow it up after my portfolio tomorrow ~
{oh you need to put a website? let me finish coding mine>
Skilling got a PhD in biology before getting one in philosophy, per the linked interview.
No Psychologist?
As a mathematician I must agree with the remarks about the omission of biologists in this research. Dealing with mathematical modeling of cognition and knowledge representation, I have seen first hand that genetics, biology and neuroscience are key to understanding goal oriented behavior which in sentient and sapient organisms is moderated by sensory input systems and associated neural systems.
These also come into play in the holobiont paradigm of human collectives.
Focusing on the biological foundations of behavior is a much better starting point to study goal oriented behavior of holobionts.
If only the PI had a PhD, publication history, and appointment in biology and it also said this in the linked articles.