A Human-Centric Functional Modeling Framework for Defining and Comparing Models of Consciousness and Cognition

Abstract

Borrowing techniques from complex systems and software engineering, this paper defines a Functional Modeling Framework to provide a simple common mechanism for representing models of consciousness or cognition that is independent of assumptions made by any specific model. All models of consciousness or cognition should of course fit into the complete set of functions of what consciousness, or cognition can do. Through attempting to represent all such functions (both computable and non-computable), this framework attempts to gain the capacity to represent all models of consciousness or cognition, even where the implementation mechanisms of those functions are unknown. Enabling different models of consciousness or cognition to be more easily compared is intended to enable research on consciousness and cognition to more reliably converge on a single understanding, even across massively collaborative research projects spanning multiple disciplines. Furthermore, if biological functionality can be considered as dynamically stable where it is persistent, then in aiming to provide a common approach for representing and comparing the functionalities of consciousness or cognition as dynamically stable systems, this framework provides a set of features through which it may be possible to see commonality between the functional components of a wide range of other dynamically stable biological or non-biological systems. If such commonality does exist, and if, as proposed, that commonality reflects deeper underlying physical and mathematical principles, then representing any researcher’s model of consciousness or cognition within this framework might help reveal applications of that researcher’s model across a wide range of other domains of study.

The Need for General Collective Intelligence in Addressing the Sustainable Development Goals

“…This model of GCI is proposed to be a mathematical solution to the problem of achieving stability in the collective ability to solve problems, despite potentially chaotic changes in the problems themselves [8]. Since this stability of function in problem solving is defined by stability in fitness to execute the functions of the collective, which is in turn defined by the collective well-being [7], a GCI may be a mathematical solution to sustainably maximizing impact on all challenges to collective well-being, including the SDGs.…”

“…This collective intelligence differs from the intelligence of individual members of the group in that just as individual intelligence is fundamentally aligned with the individual's well-being, GCI is fundamentally aligned with collective well-being. A recently defined human-centric Functional Modeling Framework (FMF) proposes to define all the functions required for this collective cognition [7]. This framework defines a GCI to be a system of collective cognition that implements all these functional components.…”

Cognitive Computing and its Relationship to Computing Methods and Advanced Computing from a Functional Modeling Perspective

“…Detection of where the cognitive system is in this conceptual space, and selection of the next cognitive process to execute, is performed by a "cognitive awareness" process. This model of cognition is part of a larger model of the entire human system that is defined by a Functional Modeling Framework (FMF) [15]. Similarly, in this larger model of the human system, the emotions operate within an emotional space, the body operates within a sensory space, and the consciousness operates within an awareness space.…”

Does Creating an Artificial General Intelligence Require General Collective Intelligence in Order to be Reliably Achievable?

“…As described by the recently defined Functional Modeling Framework (FMF) [1], which in turn leverages the recently defined approach of Human-Centric Functional Modeling or HCFM [2], humanlike general problem solving ability can potentially be represented by a functional model in which the cognitive system navigates a space of concepts (a conceptual space). In this model, the cognitive system must have some cognitive awareness process to detect the concepts currently in the awareness of the cognitive system, and to choose which cognitive processes (reasoning or understanding processes) to execute in order to navigate the conceptual space from any general problem, to the solution to that problem.…”

“…From the perspective of the cognitive model referred to in this paper [1], the statement: "fit inside the cognition of an individual human" is objectively defined as a problem or solution that fits within the maximum volume of "conceptual space" an individual human cognitive system might have access to.…”