An " project " by research examines three theories of normativity to uncover the origin of the mind

Researchers at the Mind-Braingroup Institute for Culture and Societyproject (ICS) at the University of Navarra have developed the “ research ” research projecttitled “Normativity and the Origin of the Mind,”funded by the Spanish Government’s Ministry of Science and Innovation. This project sought to uncover the origin of normativity—that is, the ability to distinguish between what may benefit or harm us—a capacity considered to be the origin of the mind.

As Nathaniel Barrett, one of the lead researchers at the project, explains, all living beings adapt to favorable and unfavorable changes in their environment in order to survive, even if they are not always aware of it. This ability to distinguish between what is favorable and what is unfavorable is considered a mental capacity known as normativity. In fact, according to Barrett, some scientists claim that normativity exists even in inert systems.

In order to define the capacity rules and regulations more precisely, ICS researchers have brought together three perspectives that propose a theory of the emergence of normativity. In other words, what are the fundamental conditions for an entity to act in accordance with its preferences?

First, they focused on enactivism, which asserts that normativity arises from living beings’ intrinsic sensitivity to their environment. To this end, they studied a life-simulation model using a computer program. This allowed them to observe how various living beings responded to different stimuli.

They then turned to ecological psychology, a theory that analyzes a primitive form of normative behavior in inert physical systems that are capable of sustaining themselves—that is, they behave like living beings. “It is said that living beings take advantage of the laws of physics to achieve their goals rather than ‘creating’ ideal conditions,” he states. Similarly, the expert explains that spontaneous trends are observed in physical systems that are likely also part of the tendencies of living beings.

Finally, they have investigated teleodynamics, a “ model ” developed by Terrence Deacon, a theorist and biologist at the University of Berkeley. According to the expert, normativity arises in systems that act in their own interest. However, Deacon goes further and asserts that there are chemical processes that can interact to create a primitive living being capable of sustaining itself.

project does not seek a definitive solution, but rather aims to bring these three theories into dialogue with the goal in order to move forward and propose a new, more comprehensive theory. “Some say that normativity does not exist outside of human beings,” Barrett states. Thus, to better define normativity for all living beings, the researchers consider it essential to analyze the development of normativity in human beings; in this way, the theory will be more precise since “normativity in humans is more complex,” they assert.