[FRIAM] The quintessence of complexity thinking

[Marcus G. Daniels]

Ken Lloyd wrote:
> Would it be more interesting to ask - What if in second order ABM's the
> agents could differentiate meta-rules (as patterns) from rules? Could they
> then apply them using evolutionary meta-genetics as a means serving as
> abstraction?  Would this work in n^m-order ABM's?
>   
An agent notes the prevailing behaviors and/or wisdom in its vicinity, 
and then `abstracts' that?
What makes it an abstraction and not just an imperfect copy?  Sometimes 
(often?) the whole is less than the sum of its parts...  Simulations 
along these lines could address questions like the impact on a 
population from meta rules and communication vs. agents living in 
ignorant bliss.