The Law of the Double Pendulum of Adaptive Systems’ Evolution
The evolution of adaptive systems is governed by the law of the double pendulum, which defines the stage of a system and the needs that drive it toward the next stage.
The functionality of adaptive systems of any kind, whether living beings or artificial systems, is sustained by fulfilling four basic drivers at an operational level: expansion, contraction, security, and freedom.
This law was discovered and formalized by Peter Belohlavek at The Unicist Research Institute.
The Law of the Double Pendulum
The behavior of adaptive systems oscillates, with varying frequency, between expansion and contraction, and simultaneously between security and freedom, which drive the evolution of a system.
These drivers regulate the evolution of an adaptive system based on a double pendulum between expansion and contraction and between freedom and security.
The pendulum between expansion and contraction is exclusive, while the pendulum between freedom and security is inclusive, meaning that both coexist based on different values.
When the level of freedom increases, it immediately generates a requirement for security; when the level of security increases, it also generates a need for freedom. This dynamic causes the functionality of systems to evolve toward either evolution or involution. At an essential level, these principles operate differently.
Two complementary functionalities are needed to establish a stable system. On the one hand, there is an expansive function where the active function is driven by freedom, and an energy conservation function driven by security.
On the other hand, there is a contractive function where the active function is also driven by freedom, and the energy conservation function is driven by security. The double pendulum between expansion and contraction works continuously, transforming the functionality of the system into a fuzzy set that is continuously evolving.
When dealing with the intrinsic functionality of an adaptive system, the amplitude of the evolution tends to be minimal. When dealing with the extrinsic functionality, which addresses the use value of an adaptive system, the amplitude is broader.
The evolution of any adaptive system is driven by this double pendulum, which must be managed when there is a need to introduce changes in the system.
The Unicist Research Institute
Artificial Intelligence Interpretations:
ChatGPT Interpretation
The “Law of the Double Pendulum” in the context of adaptive systems is a theoretical framework describing how such systems evolve and function. This law uses the metaphor of a double pendulum to illustrate the dynamic and complex interplay between four primary drivers: expansion, contraction, security, and freedom. Here’s a breakdown of how this law applies to adaptive systems:
- Dual Pendulums:
- Expansion and Contraction: This pendulum swings between expansion, which involves growth and extension, and contraction, which involves consolidation and reduction. This interaction is described as exclusive, meaning each state predominates alternately.
- Freedom and Security: This pendulum swings between freedom, which allows for innovation and change, and security, which ensures stability and safety. Unlike the first pendulum, this interaction is inclusive, suggesting that both freedom and security can coexist and are mutually reinforcing.
- Dynamics of the Drivers:
- When freedom increases, it naturally leads to a greater demand for security to manage the risks associated with new changes or freedoms.
- Conversely, when security is heightened, there tends to be a resultant drive toward increasing freedom, possibly as a response to the constraints that security measures impose.
- Functionality and Evolution:
- The law posits two complementary functionalities necessary for a stable system: an expansive function driven by freedom and an energy conservation function driven by security. These functions help manage the balance between growth and sustainability.
- The system’s functionality is described as evolving continuously, forming a fuzzy set that is never static but always adapting and shifting.
- Amplitude of Evolution:
- Intrinsic functionality, which concerns the core operations of an adaptive system, tends to have minimal amplitude in its evolution, suggesting subtle and gradual changes.
- Extrinsic functionality, related to how the system is utilized or its utility value, shows broader amplitude, indicating more significant shifts and changes based on external demands or applications.
- Management of Change:
- The evolution of adaptive systems, driven by these pendulums, requires careful management, particularly when changes need to be introduced. Understanding and influencing the balance and interaction between expansion, contraction, freedom, and security are crucial to guiding the system’s evolution effectively.
This conceptual model provides a useful lens for examining how adaptive systems (both biological and artificial) manage change and maintain functionality over time, balancing growth with stability and innovation with security.