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We develop a generalized form of question-answer probing as a" /> <meta name="robots" content="noindex" /> <title>The Search Function and Evolutionary Novelty | Stuart Kauffman - Academia.edu</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.academia.edu/110296455/The_Search_Function_and_Evolutionary_Novelty" /> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-5VKX33P2DS"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-5VKX33P2DS', { cookie_domain: 'academia.edu', send_page_view: false, }); gtag('event', 'page_view', { 'controller': "single_work", 'action': "show", 'controller_action': 'single_work#show', 'logged_in': 'false', 'edge': 'unknown', // Send nil if there is no A/B test bucket, in case some records get logged // with missing data - that way we can distinguish between the two cases. // ab_test_bucket should be of the form <ab_test_name>:<bucket> 'ab_test_bucket': null, }) </script> <script> var $controller_name = 'single_work'; var $action_name = "show"; var $rails_env = 'production'; var $app_rev = '5175dedf89e433482746070fad8344a6ec850b7c'; var $domain = 'academia.edu'; var $app_host = "academia.edu"; var $asset_host = "academia-assets.com"; var $start_time = new Date().getTime(); var $recaptcha_key = "6LdxlRMTAAAAADnu_zyLhLg0YF9uACwz78shpjJB"; var $recaptcha_invisible_key = "6Lf3KHUUAAAAACggoMpmGJdQDtiyrjVlvGJ6BbAj"; var $disableClientRecordHit = false; </script> <script> window.require = { config: function() { return function() {} } } </script> <script> window.Aedu = window.Aedu || {}; window.Aedu.hit_data = null; window.Aedu.serverRenderTime = new Date(1732730475000); window.Aedu.timeDifference = new Date().getTime() - 1732730475000; </script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ScholarlyArticle","abstract":"In this paper we address the hard problem of search. Search is a pervasive phenomenon of biological and economic life. But search is hard鈥攅specially in uncertain and dynamic environments. We develop a generalized form of question-answer probing as a way of simplifying search, with implications for understanding biological and economic novelty. This form of search simultaneously constrains and enables search spaces in counterintuitive ways. Question-answer probing not only illustrates seemingly mundane search activity (such as foraging for food or looking for a lost item), but it also provides the foundation for explaining the emergence of both evolutionary novelty and economic value. An organism鈥檚 (or organization鈥檚) directed search (especially the search for function) supplies a key mechanism for realizing adjacent possibilities and new niches. Our approach contrasts with extant evolutionary and computational approaches to search (such as brute-force, serial processing or Bayesian priors and updating), which lack organism-specific mechanisms. Our approach also contrasts with physics-oriented conceptions of mind, organism and consciousness. Throughout the paper we offer cognitive, biological (e.g., tool making), and economic examples to illustrate our points. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our arguments for economics and innovation.","author":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","name":"Stuart Kauffman"}],"contributor":[],"dateCreated":"2023-12-01","dateModified":null,"datePublished":"2019-01-01","headline":"The Search Function and Evolutionary Novelty","inLanguage":"en","keywords":["Evolutionary Biology","Computer Science","Economics","Biology","Consciousness","Ecology","Foraging ecology","Social Science Research Network","Novelty","Oxford university","Strategy Business"],"locationCreated":null,"publication":"SSRN Electronic Journal","publisher":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Elsevier BV"},"image":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"url":"https://www.academia.edu/110296455/The_Search_Function_and_Evolutionary_Novelty","sourceOrganization":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"EducationalOrganization","name":null}]}</script><link rel="stylesheet" media="all" 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Search is a pervasive phenomenon of biological and economic life. But search is hard鈥攅specially in uncertain and dynamic environments. We develop a generalized form of question-answer probing as a way of simplifying search, with implications for understanding biological and economic novelty. This form of search simultaneously constrains and enables search spaces in counterintuitive ways. Question-answer probing not only illustrates seemingly mundane search activity (such as foraging for food or looking for a lost item), but it also provides the foundation for explaining the emergence of both evolutionary novelty and economic value. An organism鈥檚 (or organization鈥檚) directed search (especially the search for function) supplies a key mechanism for realizing adjacent possibilities and new niches. Our approach contrasts with extant evolutionary and computational approaches to search (such as brute-force, serial processing or Bayesian priors and updating), which lack organism-specific mechanisms. Our approach also contrasts with physics-oriented conceptions of mind, organism and consciousness. Throughout the paper we offer cognitive, biological (e.g., tool making), and economic examples to illustrate our points. 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Search is a pervasive phenomenon of biological and economic life. But search is hard鈥攅specially in uncertain and dynamic environments. We develop a generalized form of question-answer probing as a way of simplifying search, with implications for understanding biological and economic novelty. This form of search simultaneously constrains and enables search spaces in counterintuitive ways. Question-answer probing not only illustrates seemingly mundane search activity (such as foraging for food or looking for a lost item), but it also provides the foundation for explaining the emergence of both evolutionary novelty and economic value. An organism鈥檚 (or organization鈥檚) directed search (especially the search for function) supplies a key mechanism for realizing adjacent possibilities and new niches. Our approach contrasts with extant evolutionary and computational approaches to search (such as brute-force, serial processing or Bayesian priors and updating), which lack organism-specific mechanisms. Our approach also contrasts with physics-oriented conceptions of mind, organism and consciousness. Throughout the paper we offer cognitive, biological (e.g., tool making), and economic examples to illustrate our points. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our arguments for economics and innovation.</div></div><div class="request-upload--container"><p class="request-upload--title">Stuart Kauffman hasn't uploaded this paper.</p><div class="request-upload--info-text"><svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" data-prefix="fas" data-icon="info-circle" class="request-upload--info-icon svg-inline--fa fa-info-circle fa-w-16" role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path fill="currentColor" d="M256 8C119.043 8 8 119.083 8 256c0 136.997 111.043 248 248 248s248-111.003 248-248C504 119.083 392.957 8 256 8zm0 110c23.196 0 42 18.804 42 42s-18.804 42-42 42-42-18.804-42-42 18.804-42 42-42zm56 254c0 6.627-5.373 12-12 12h-88c-6.627 0-12-5.373-12-12v-24c0-6.627 5.373-12 12-12h12v-64h-12c-6.627 0-12-5.373-12-12v-24c0-6.627 5.373-12 12-12h64c6.627 0 12 5.373 12 12v100h12c6.627 0 12 5.373 12 12v24z"></path></svg><p class="no-margin hide-on-small-mobile">Let Stuart know you want this paper to be uploaded.</p><p class="no-margin hide-above-small-mobile">Ask for this paper to be uploaded.</p></div><button class="work-cover--request-pdf-button small js-request-pdf-button hide-on-desktop"><svg style="width: 14px; 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