
<ftp://ftp.eeng.dcu.ie/pub/autonomy/bmcm8901/README.TXT>


             Computational Darwinism, or
             Who Teaches the Teacher?

             
             Barry McMullin,
             School of Electronic Engineering,
             Dublin City University,
             Dublin 9,
             IRELAND.

             <McMullin@EENG.DCU.IE>

                     September 1989

               Technical Report: bmcm8901


        This is a re-formatted version of a paper
        presented at the conference "AI and Cognitive
        Science '89", Dublin, 1989.


ABSTRACT:
---------

The ``homunculus'' problem is discussed, in the context of machine
learning.  Arising from this, a class of adaptive computational systems
(``D-machines''), based on darwinian principles, is defined. A D-machine
consists of a computing substrate (``interpreter'') supporting a dynamic
population of diverse computational structures referred to as
_demons_. Demons interact with each other and with an ``external''
environment.  Interactions include the possibility of reproduction
(genetic or otherwise).  Demons must compete for finite resources.

It is conjectured that a D-machine, _as a whole_, may ``adapt'' to
its environment (i.e.\ ``learn'') in novel and interesting ways.

D-machines and related prior systems are compared and contrasted.
A research program, involving both theoretical and empirical
investigation, is outlined.

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.bib entry for *this* TR:
-------------------------

@TECHREPORT{
  McMullin:WhoTeachesTheTeacher,
  AUTHOR      = "Barry McMullin",
  TITLE       = "Computational Darwinism, or
                 Who Teaches the Teacher?",
  INSTITUTION = "School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University",
  YEAR        = "1989",
  MONTH       = "September",
  NUMBER      = "{\tt bmcm8901}",
  TYPE        = "Technical Report",
  ADDRESS     = "Dublin 9, Ireland",
  URL         = "ftp://ftp.eeng.dcu.ie/pub/autonomy/bmcm8901/"
  }

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