[FRIAM] The fractal dimension of group selection

[Jochen Fromm]

Nick, your paper looks interesting. From what I understand it tries to analyze the group selection metaphor. Metaphors are a natural tool we use to understand abstract objects. To understand a complex problem knowing the tool is important, but it also helps to understand the underlying processes from different perspectives.One perspective is reciprocity:Kin selection: gene-gene reciprocity for biological genes. I help my brother or cousin to reproduce his genes, and he helps to reproduce my genes because we are related.Group selection: biological gene-group gene reciprocity. I help the group to reproduce its genes, and the group helps me to reproduce my genes by supporting me.Another perspective is virtuality:Group genes first appear in fluid "virtual" form, in flocks, as the paper says. Groups can exhibit group-level traits even if they are not encoded as genes. In the course of time these traits and collective behavior patterns can solidify in written form. These written rules are then the foundation for a new evolutionary system.And we have the perspective of fractality:Phenotypes in a evolutionary system can be complex and often exhibit a self-similar structure, which is at best described by fractal structures. If they are so complex that they develop an own language which can be used to create and store genes, then their instances can emulate, simulate or approximate an entity from a different evolutionary system based on different genes.This approximation of a different dimension is typical for fractal structures, too. Therefore the dimension of an evolutionary system in a transitional state can at best be described by a fractal dimension. If a new evolutionary system emerges at all depends on the solidification of group genes (which can be expressed in "repeated assemblies", see Smaldino (*) or my new book). If this is not convincing I would like to recommend the paper of Paul Smaldino and the work of David Sloan Wilson. You mention him in the paper, he is an expert in this area who knows all about group selection. -J.(*) "The cultural evolution of emergent group-level traits", Paul E. Smaldino, Behavioral Brain Science 2014 Jun 37(3) 243-54
-------- Original message --------From: thompnickson2 at gmail.com Date: 7/5/20  23:21  (GMT+01:00) To: 'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group' <friam at redfish.com> Subject: Re: [FRIAM] The fractal dimension of group selection Hi, Jochen,  So, I am writing to ask for access to our mind for this work. I think it explores your notion of “fractality” but in a very different language.  What’s access cost, these days?  Nick  Nicholas ThompsonEmeritus Professor of Ethology and PsychologyClark UniversityThompNickSon2 at gmail.comhttps://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/   From: Friam <friam-bounces at redfish.com> On Behalf Of Jochen FrommSent: Sunday, July 5, 2020 6:52 AMTo: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <Friam at redfish.com>Subject: [FRIAM] The fractal dimension of group selection We recently discussed the concept of a fractal dimension, and today morning I had the idea that we can apply it to the concept of group selection to measure how many dimensions an evolutionary system has. If you are interested take a look athttp://blog.cas-group.net/2020/07/the-fractal-dimension-of-group-selection/ -J. 
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