Proceedings

I considered the problem of existence of virtual objects, mainly the mode of existence of these objects, while I omitted the issue of the criteria of their existence. I present a brief exposition of alternative the concepts of modes (forms, kinds) of existence of virtual objects proposed in the literature on the subject, and then I demonstrate my position on this issue. Full article

In 2021, Daniel Hardegger reinterpreted the notion of The 4th Space as meaning the virtual space. It dwells within the three dimensions: Physical space where it is instantiated, technological medium used to access it, and the time frame. The ontology of Hardegger’s 4th space relies on traditionalist real-space physicalism. Luciano Floridi, in his 2014 The 4th Revolution, has placed the informational revolution within his prior framework of information-based ontology, where human beings as well as virtual and physical objects, are all inforgs—informational entities. In this brief article, we compare and contrast these ontologies. Full article

This paper briefly sketches the ontological, epistemic, and ethical implications of three farming paradigms: 20th Century Chemico-mechanical agronomy, Microbiomic-ecological cultivation, and Algorithmic “Smart” farming. The position ultimately taken, though not fully defended, is that Smart farming algorithms will predictably fail, likely catastrophically, if doesn’t become the dominant paradigm in practice as we integrate and connect and scale up. Full article

The philosophy of AI currently comprises the core of Philosophy and Computing. Fascinating ideas include: B. Goertzel states that humans use paraconsistent logic, which robots should follow; S. Thaler’s discovery engines (DABUS), which are at the early stage AGI; the Uplift team trying to build advanced AI around the kernel of ethics, while solving the problem of life-long-learning neural nets. J. Copeland gave an IS4SI plenary, while Oron Shagrir and Jun Tani gave APC plenary lectures. J. Bach assembled an amazing panel on machine consciousness. Novel session on the fourth space was led by D. Hardegger. Invited speakers including M. Burgin, S. Castro, R. Goodwin, R. Manzotti, M. Talanov. Graduate presentations e.g., J. Dakowski, C. Abels. BICA/APC panel on ethics and future AGI with R. Yampolkiy, M. Waser and D. Kelley. Full article

In this essay, we use the provocation of the possibility of artificial intelligence involving the physical merger of humans and machines to explore cognitive extension and the co-evolution of humans and technology. Our aim is to show that far from the stereotypical vision of cyborgs requiring chips in their brain, we are already becoming cognitively extended by the internet, and this is the product of a co-evolutionary development of the internet itself. Full article

The aim of this paper is the expansion of understanding what intelligence is, what is being performed in the area of AI and in which direction to move further in this area. To achieve these goals, the stratified componential model of intelligence in general and AI, in particular, is introduced and studied. Its application entails three approaches to the development of artificial intelligence. Full article

Due to the past t_P and the future t_F being divided into a pair of opposing times by the now t_N, the generation mechanism of the contradiction is attributed in this paper as the process in which the time increment Δt and Δt’ are transmitted from the past t_P and the future t_F to the present moment t_N, respectively, and then reverse each other. The category and topos of time contradictorily constructed by the mechanism is discussed. It is shown that not only can the laws of the “Unification of Opposites”, “Mutual change of Quality and Quantity” and “Negation of negation” of the contradiction be represented in this form of category, but some of classic constructions appearing in the fields of mathematics, physics, logic, life, nerves, thinking, and intelligence can also be considered as morphosm- or pattern-induced and emerge via this mechanism as well. On the other hands, a series of concepts, models, and algorithms for noetic science, such as the attribute conjunctive monoid category (ACMC), attribute reasoning lattice category (ARLC), attribute coordinate system (ACS), attribute coordinate analysis method based on the learning of ACS for perception, cognition, and decision-making (ACAM), qualitative (conversion degree) mapping from quantity to quality (QM), attribute grid computer based on qualitative mapping, qualitative criteria transformation (AGC), etc., which have been verified through corresponding experiments, have been proposed, so that not only a set of attribute theory methods from perception to cognition and thinking have been constructed, but the synthetized framework of “Quantitative ⨂ Fixed Image ⇒ Qualitative”, called “Framework of Syntenic Three Approaches” (FSTA) can also be induced. It is possible to provide an alternative reference path and technical solution for noetic science and open complex giant systems because FSTA is consistent with the framework of “Quantitative Intelligence ⨂ Fixed Image Intelligence ⇒ Qualitative Intelligence (Meta Synthetic Wisdom)”, as proposed by Hsue-shen Tsien. Full article

The First Sustainable Globe Conference 2021 was held virtually from 8 to 10 September 2021. The partner organizers were Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg from Germany, RootsGoods Private Limited from India, and the Vriksha Foundation from Nepal. The theme of the conference was sustainability for climate action. The focus topics of the theme were education, agriculture (nutrition), urban and rural development, and natural and cultural resources management. Abstracts were submitted from 20 universities in 13 countries. In total, 69 registrants attended the conference, and 29 papers were presented, of which 4 were poster presentations along with 10 invited and keynote speakers. The presentations were either in English or Spanish (with English subtitles and/or live translation). The conference was divided into two plenary sessions—first, education; and second, natural and cultural resources, urban and rural development, and agriculture. In the education session, most of the discussion was related to environmental education to improve environmental literacy in all age groups. The project-based education, along with formal and informal teaching and educational methodologies, was discussed. For the second plenary session, the discussion was mixed with protecting natural and cultural resources by promoting scientific applications and public participation in citizen science. However, the final remark was guided by one of the keynote speakers, who highlighted the importance of spirituality in sustainability, and how the discussion of spirituality is lacking in the public discourse on sustainability. Therefore, the conference aimed to develop future themes regarding sustainability by not missing the critical aspect of spirituality. The context of spirituality here was defined as approaching problems as not being separate from our existence but, rather, a part of our existence and, thus, in addition to applying scientific, technical, didactics, and engineering solutions, also applying attitudes, values, and beliefs toward the problem matter. To elaborate on these remarks, this issue presents the abstracts of the presented papers in the conference, while the keynotes and entire session can be revisited on the YouTube channel of RootsGoods Private Limited. Full article

Reconciling determinism with adaptability and resilience in the design of complex distributed system is a difficult task. In this paper, we argue that theoretical biology, especially biosemiotics and morphogenesis, gives a new perspective into this problem and presents us with new concepts that have been barely studied in the distributed systems literature. Current solutions for real-time systems are based on two simple assumptions, Positional Information and the B-series Time Code, which are only a small portion of the mechanisms used by living organisms. Investigating the application of alternative concepts on deterministic communication systems, such as inter-agential time (the E-series Time Code) and reaction–diffusion mechanisms, represents a promising path forward. Full article

Marx saw that the universal application of machines in the 19th century had a double effect, that is, to promote the development of productive forces, to open new fields of production, and to realize the enrichment of labor products At the same time, it also leads to the impoverishment of laborers’ working ability and a large amount of unemployment, so that workers become “local people”. Although the phenomenon of alienation caused by the universal application of machines is an inevitable stage in the development of human society, Marx revealed the deep roots behind it. The capitalist application of machines is different from that of the machines themselves. Finally, he aimed his criticism at capitalists and the capitalist social system. With the advent of today’s intelligent era, a new round of social problems has emerged, such as unemployment, aging knowledge structures, human development, and other difficulties. Marx’s machine thinking still has value in dealing with these practical problems. Full article

“Qi” plays an important role in Chinese Calligraphy Theory. “Qi” deeply embodies the spirit of Taoism and philosophical speculation with Oriental characteristics and can reflect the core and composition of traditional Chinese art aesthetics. The “qi” of calligraphy determines the character of calligraphy works and is the soul of calligraphy. When “qi” is weak, the quality of calligraphy works is poor, but calligraphy works will have a high style when they are full of “qi”. “qi” governs the aesthetic evaluation and artistic creation of Chinese calligraphy, which runs through the whole history of Chinese calligraphy. From the point of view of Chinese philosophy of information, “qi” is a kind of comprehensive information conveyed in calligraphy works. Calligraphy works should capture important information in such aspects as handwriting potential, romantic charm, strength, significance and antiquity, so as to form the unique character of calligraphers. Full article

Understanding the ternary structure of “subject-information entity-object” actually brings out a modern philosophical system with the connotation of “language philosophy-information philosophy-cognitive philosophy” that is, the internal relationship of three basic philosophical concepts with “thinking-emergence-existence” as the core. This paper attempts to explore: 1. The relationship between emergence and thinking; 2. The relationship between emergence and existence; 3. The relationship between emergence and information; 4. The application of emergence in modern philosophy; 5. Enlightenment of emergence to future society. Full article

This article proposes the substitution of artificial intelligence due to technological development: it not only includes the iteration and advancement of human-use tools of intelligent systems in the material world, and the systematic substitution of human labor, but also the push of intelligent systems on human creation in the information world. The integration of artificial intelligence and bioengineering not only enables technology to advance production and promote social development but also optimizes the structure of life forms, achieves creative breakthroughs in thinking, reshapes and recreates new ways of life evolution, and at the same time realizes culture evolution. Full article

Aesthetics is an important branch of philosophy. In traditional philosophy, art aesthetics tends to analyze the subjectivity and perception of knowledge. Under the framework of information philosophy, it requires us to make a fundamental transformation of art aesthetics, which is a unity of direct and indirect existence, as it is known that while artistic images are objective and tangible, the information they convey to the audience is objective but intangible. Artworks are the understandings and recreations of the objective reality and are integrated with the artists’ subjective feelings, and they are meanwhile influenced by the external environments. As an objective form of existence, the information contained in an artwork is a combination of the artwork itself and the transformed subjective feelings, which reflects not only the objective and indirect existence of the work but the subjective and indirect existence of the artist. Full article

The main purpose of sustainable interaction design is to meet global challenges in society, the economy, and the environment to an extent that goes beyond the well-being of human beings and attempts to promote the well-being of all beings. This paper examines the relationship between sustainable interaction design and digital humanism. Interactions as objects of design could/should be characterized as able to afford sustainable behavior for the following reasons: their very existence is sustainable, they are designed to evoke sustainability, or they are part of a sustainable system. Humanity needs to realize that every single human being is part of the humanitarian and ecological crisis. Through sustainable interaction design, we could really help users feel that they are part of the solution and that their actions can truly change lives. We seek answers related to the design, materiality, and contribution of sustainable interactions in shaping more humane interfaces. Full article

There is a growing debate on how to regulate and make responsible use of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). In an increasingly globalized scenario, power relations and inequalities between different countries and regions need to be addressed. While developed countries are leading the building of an ethical governance architecture for AI, in the so-called global south (e.g., countries with a post-colonial history, also called non-developing countries), their situation of vulnerability and dependence on northern domination leads them to import digital technology, capital and modes of organization from these developed countries. This imbalance, in the absence of an ethical reflection, can have a significantly negative impact on their already excluded, oppressed and discriminated populations. In this paper, we want to explore to what extent countries from the global south that import digital technology from developed countries may be affected if we do not take into account the need for multi-level and ethical global governance of AI from a human rights/democratic perspective. In particular, we want to address two problems that may arise: (a) Lack of governance capacity in southern populations resulting from their dependence from northern leadership on technological innovations and regulations, and (b) material and workforce extractivism inflicted by the northern countries on southern ones. Full article

This is a work in progress that aims to study Semiotic Theory as the grounding to support the development of new models of mind. These models can be used to construct artificial intelligent agents to deal with several tasks in the real world. The introduction presents a specific scope of cognition that takes perception and action as two connected moments bound together by signs. Some key concepts related to Peircean categories and sign typology are presented, and they are used to demonstrate their connections to the three instances of the world of ideas: World of Sense, World of Things, and World of Categories. Sensors/Actuators are considered as the unique interface with the properties of the world (signals). They are the basic artificial devices in the process of sign representation that lead semiosis toward more developed signs and, consequently, more complex ideas. Finally, artificial cognition must allow agents to act in the world, and it occurs by means of the sign interpretant, mostly by the energetic interpretant. Full article

This paper argues that generative music and art techniques have much to tell us about the politics of operations in infrastructural and political contexts, that generative techniques are an unavoidable aspect of informatic operations, and that an artistic and materially-grounded sensibility toward the manipulation of the inherent biases of operations is necessary, if not sufficient, for creating high-stakes automated systems that take an ethics of care as foundational to their becoming. This paper does so through concepts from mid-twentieth century philosopher of technology Gilbert Simondon’s On the Mode of Existence of Technical Objects alongside critical readings of a pair of software artifacts—namely the predictive policing platform Geolitica (formerly PredPol) and the procedurally-generated videogame No Man’s Sky. The analysis is supplemented by the author’s experience as an experimental electronic musician, media artist and software product developer. Full article