Belgian cyberneticist (born 1960)
Francis Heylighen
Francis Paul Heylighen (born 27 September 1960) is a Belgian cyberneticist investigating the emergence and evolution of intelligent organization. He presently works as a research professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (the Dutch-speaking Free University of Brussels), where he directs the transdisciplinary research group on "Evolution, Complexity and Cognition"[1][2] and the Global Brain Institute. He is best known for his work on the Principia Cybernetica Project, his model of the Internet as a global brain, and his contributions to the theories of memetics and self-organization. He is also known, albeit to a lesser extent, for his work on gifted people and their problems.
Francis Heylighen was born on September 27, 1960 in Vilvoorde, Belgium. He received his high school education from the "Koninklijk Atheneum Pitzemburg" in Mechelen, in the section Latin-Mathematics. He received his MSc in mathematical physics in 1982 from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where he also received his PhD Summa cum Laude in Sciences in 1987[3] for his thesis, published in 1990, as "Representation and Change. A Metarepresentational Framework for the Foundations of Physical and Cognitive Science."[4]
In 1983 he started working as a researcher for the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (NFWO). In 1994 he became a tenured researcher at the NFWO and in 2001 a research professor at the VUB. Since 1995 he has been affiliated with the VUB's Center Leo Apostel for interdisciplinary studies.[5] In 2004 he created the ECCO research group[6] which he presently directs. Thanks to a grant from a private sponsor, in 2012 he additionally founded the Global Brain Institute at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, becoming its first director.
In 1989 Valentin Turchin and Cliff Joslyn founded the Principia Cybernetica Project, and Heylighen joined a year later. In 1993 he created the project's encyclopedic site, one of the first complex websites in the world. In 1996, Heylighen founded the "Global Brain Group", an international discussion forum that provides a working platform for most of the scientists who have worked on the concept of emergent Internet intelligence.[5] Heylighen was also one of the founders and former editor of the Journal of Memetics[7] which ceased publication in 2008.
Heylighen is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science,[8] and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Complex Systems of the World Economic Forum.[9] His biography has been listed since 2002 in Marquis Who's Who in the world.[10] In 2015, he received an "Outstanding Technology Contribution Award" from the Web Intelligence Consortium,[11] for his research on the Global Brain.
His research focuses on the emergence and evolution of complex, intelligent organization. Applications include the origin of life, the development of multicellular organisms, knowledge, culture, and societies, and the impact of information and communication technologies on present and future social evolution.
Heylighen's scientific work covers an extremely wide range of subjects, exemplifying his intellectual curiosity and fundamentally transdisciplinary way of thinking. In addition to the topics mentioned above, his publications cover topics such as the foundations of quantum mechanics, the structure of space-time, hypermedia interfaces, the psychology of self-actualization and happiness, the market mechanism, formality and contextuality in language, causality, the measurement of social progress, the mechanism of stigmergy and its application to the web.
This broad variety of work is held together by two basic principles. The relational principle notes that phenomena do not exist on their own, but only in relation (connection or distinction) to other phenomena. They thus only make sense as part of an encompassing network or system.[12] The evolutionary principle notes that variation through (re)combination of parts and natural selection of the fitter combinations results in ever more complex and adaptive systems. This principle is a direct application of Universal Darwinism, the idea that Darwinian mechanisms can be extended to virtually all disciplines and problem domains.
The two principles come together in Heylighen's concept of a distinction dynamics.[13] In his analysis, classical scientific methodology is based on given, unchanging distinctions between elements or states. Therefore, it is intrinsically unable to model creative change. But the evolutionary principle makes distinctions dynamic, explaining the creation and destruction of relations, distinctions and connections, and thus helping us to understand how and why complex organization emerges.
Moreover, any system must be adapted to its environment, which implies that it is able to react adequately to changes in that environment. This is the origin of mind or intelligence, as the system should be able to select the right actions for the given conditions. These "condition-action" relations are the basis of knowledge.[14] As systems evolve, their adaptiveness tends to increase, and therefore also their knowledge or intelligence. Thus, the general trend of evolution is self-organization, or a spontaneous increase in intelligent organization.
Together with Cliff Joslyn and the late Valentin Turchin, Heylighen is a founding editor of the Principia Cybernetica Project, which is devoted to the collaborative development of an evolutionary-systemic philosophy. He created its website, the Principia Cybernetica Web,[15] in 1993, as one of the first complex webs in the world. It is still viewed as one of the most important sites on cybernetics, systems theory and related approaches.
In 1996, Heylighen founded the "Global Brain Group",[16] an international discussion forum that groups most of the scientists who have worked on the concept of emergent Internet intelligence.[5] Together with his PhD student Johan Bollen, Heylighen was the first to propose algorithms that could turn the world-wide web into a self-organizing, learning network that exhibits collective intelligence, i.e. a Global brain.
In the 2007 article "The Global Superorganism: an evolutionary-cybernetic model of the emerging network society" Heylighen gave a detailed exposition of the superorganism/global brain view of society, and an examination of the underlying evolutionary mechanisms, with applications to the ongoing and future developments in a globalizing world. Presently, he is developing a detailed mathematical and simulation model of the global brain, together with his collaborators in the Global Brain Institute.[17]
Heylighen has published over 100 papers and a book.[18] A selection:
See the article here:
- Memetics - Wikipedia - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Mind - Wikipedia - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Spiral Dynamics - Wikipedia - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Whats in a Meme? - Richard Dawkins - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- What is a meme? What you need to know about the cultural phenomena - USA TODAY - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Science fiction horror story that came true and we're living in now. - Daily Kos - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- What is Memetics? | Virtusa - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Memetics | Psychology Wiki | Fandom - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Memetics. Meme means copy. Bio means two. | by Ilexa Yardley | The ... - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Memes: What are They and Why They Are Important - July 9th, 2022 [July 9th, 2022]
- Antisemitism on the rise in America: An explainer and research roundup - Journalist's Resource - May 28th, 2022 [May 28th, 2022]
- GameStop stock split: What you need to know - finder.com.au - May 25th, 2022 [May 25th, 2022]
- Darwin's Dangerous Idea - Wikipedia - March 27th, 2022 [March 27th, 2022]
- Social Cohesion | Healthy People 2020 - March 11th, 2022 [March 11th, 2022]
- AMC Dips 4% Despite Strongest Earnings in 2 Years - The Tokenist - March 11th, 2022 [March 11th, 2022]
- The Rise of MemeCoins: Will They Survive 2022? - International Business Times - January 24th, 2022 [January 24th, 2022]
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- Power of memes - The Manila Times - November 23rd, 2021 [November 23rd, 2021]
- An Interview With The World-Famous Artist Who Created The Internet's Favourite Fake Lineup Shot - Wavelength Magazine - November 21st, 2021 [November 21st, 2021]
- Meme sounds JAYUZUMI SOUNDBOARDS - November 11th, 2021 [November 11th, 2021]
- Hideo Kojimas The Creative Gene is a heartfelt tribute to pop culture - The A.V. Club - October 17th, 2021 [October 17th, 2021]
- TikTok memetics: Gen Z is reshaping the world, and fast - Geektime - October 7th, 2021 [October 7th, 2021]
- meme | Definition, Meaning, History, & Facts | Britannica - September 12th, 2021 [September 12th, 2021]
- MINDFULNESS | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary - September 12th, 2021 [September 12th, 2021]
- Why Ethereum's Price Is Built on Firmer Ground Than Bitcoin - CoinDesk - CoinDesk - June 28th, 2021 [June 28th, 2021]
- Are Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey Working in Tandem to Spread BTC FUD? - The Tokenist - June 28th, 2021 [June 28th, 2021]
- The pandemic dividend: The other two viruses we dont think about - Deccan Herald - December 30th, 2020 [December 30th, 2020]
- Army Of Contact-Tracing Workers Being Recruited To Help Combat Coronavirus Pandemic - CBS San Francisco - May 22nd, 2020 [May 22nd, 2020]
- Controlling the Narrative? - Church Militant - February 10th, 2020 [February 10th, 2020]
- Snow Crash TV Series Adaptation is Coming to HBO Max - Epicstream - December 22nd, 2019 [December 22nd, 2019]
- 'Snow Crash' TV Series in the Works at HBO Max - /FILM - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Book That Inspired Facebooks Chief VR Researcher And Coined Metaverse To Get HBO Series - UploadVR - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Celebrate the Arts at Blackout Black Friday - Memphis Flyer - November 30th, 2019 [November 30th, 2019]
- The Hi-Tech Traditionalist: From Samizdat To Memetics What Is Similar And What Is Different Between Soviet And American Dissidents - Tsarizm - November 15th, 2019 [November 15th, 2019]
- Who Elected Zuckerberg Head of the Thought Police? - The Real News Network - November 4th, 2019 [November 4th, 2019]
- Memes, memes everywhere | SunStar - Sun.Star - August 22nd, 2017 [August 22nd, 2017]
- The matter with memes - The GUIDON - August 20th, 2017 [August 20th, 2017]
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- The Most Influential Memes on the Internet - Fox Weekly - July 28th, 2017 [July 28th, 2017]
- The Pro-Trump Media Is Full Of Offensive Memes And Trolls, But Is It A Hate Group? - BuzzFeed News - July 26th, 2017 [July 26th, 2017]
- Lasix g6pd deficiency - Salix lasix furosemide - The Village Reporter and the Hometown Huddle - July 17th, 2017 [July 17th, 2017]
- Dangers of drugs - Side effects of long term use of sodium valproate - The Village Reporter and the Hometown Huddle - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
- Internet Memes Are Changing The Way We Communicate IRL - HuffPost UK - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- The Meme-ing of Life - Aitkin Independent Age - July 7th, 2017 [July 7th, 2017]
- Memefacturing dissent! Breaking down the 'science' of memes in India - Mid-Day - July 1st, 2017 [July 1st, 2017]
- Meme-Gene Coevolution - Susan Blackmore - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Editorial: Circumspect, respect - Sun.Star - June 3rd, 2017 [June 3rd, 2017]
- Harambe one year on: How the gorilla became an internet meme - The Independent - May 28th, 2017 [May 28th, 2017]
- Here's one reason why people are fighting on planes so much - New York Post - May 18th, 2017 [May 18th, 2017]
- American Arrested After Airplane Brawl in Tokyo - NEWS.com.au - May 17th, 2017 [May 17th, 2017]
- Science explained: Viral memes for Boar reading teens - The Boar - May 17th, 2017 [May 17th, 2017]
- What Are Billbugs And How Do I Get Rid Of Them? | MeMetics - May 13th, 2017 [May 13th, 2017]
- TruthHawk - Memetics, Information, Society - May 2nd, 2017 [May 2nd, 2017]
- The Skeptical Zone | "I beseech you, in the bowels of ... - April 19th, 2017 [April 19th, 2017]
- Film: Ghost in the Shell - The Yale Herald - April 17th, 2017 [April 17th, 2017]
- Can NATO Weaponize Memes? - Foreign Policy (blog) - April 13th, 2017 [April 13th, 2017]
- Memes could be the key to predicting the future | Digit.in - Digit - April 7th, 2017 [April 7th, 2017]
- Memeology: Where did memes begin? - Dailyuw - March 29th, 2017 [March 29th, 2017]
- What is a Meme? | The Daily Meme - March 23rd, 2017 [March 23rd, 2017]
- Do Daniel C. Dennett's memes deserve to survive? - Spectator.co.uk - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- On Memetics and the Transfer of Cultural Information - Paste Magazine - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- The Meme Culture of America is Taking Over - TrendinTech - February 26th, 2017 [February 26th, 2017]
- Row erupts as East London gallery accused of showing 'alt-right' and 'racist' art - Art Newspaper - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Is America Prepared for Meme Warfare? - Motherboard - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- The scientific controversy behind memes - Varsity Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Thagomizer and Four Other Invented Words - Big Shiny Robot! - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Cognitive science: Dennett rides again - Nature.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Mem Wikipedia - December 7th, 2016 [December 7th, 2016]
- Philosophy of Religion Religion and Memetics - November 23rd, 2016 [November 23rd, 2016]
- Memetics Story - November 23rd, 2016 [November 23rd, 2016]
- Applied Memetics LLC - Jobs - November 21st, 2016 [November 21st, 2016]
- Memetics - Chielens - November 16th, 2016 [November 16th, 2016]
- Meme - Wikipedia - October 19th, 2016 [October 19th, 2016]
- MeMetics - Your Trusted Online News and How-to Site - September 20th, 2016 [September 20th, 2016]
- Memetics and Infohazards Division Orientation - SCP Foundation - August 23rd, 2016 [August 23rd, 2016]