Has anyone ever programmed a computer system to evolve theories?

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of programming a computer to generate theories or mathematical structures based on experimental data and then testing them against related data to see if they accurately predict outcomes. This process would involve slight mutations and mating of successful theories to create an evolved theory. The conversation also explores the idea of starting with simple concepts and gradually building upon them to create more complex theories. It is suggested that this process could be done through brute force, but it may also require the ability to create new math and recognize patterns in patterns. The concept of quantum computing is also mentioned as a potential tool in this process. Overall, the conversation highlights the difficulty and potential of programming a computer to generate theories.
  • #36
Proton Soup said:
i think you could model imagination (to a degree at least) by throwing in some randomization. that's (part of) how the evolved circuits that Meatbot mentioned arrived at their "imaginative" solutions.

Modeling imagination seems like it could be done. How about modeling creativity? What if you have it to throw out random cancepts/situations/problems that are at first glance probably unrelated to the problem at hand, and then have it look for similarities between them. It also examines the other attributes of the 2nd item that don't SEEM TO match and considers whether they might really match somehow if you thought about it.

Take a lamp and a desk fan. Both have mass. Both use electricity. Both are made of quarks. Both are plastic. Both are white. Etc... Possibly useful. Ok, now what about a quality of the fan that doesn't seem to be present in the lamp at first glance. A fan makes air move. At first glance, most people would not say a lamp makes air move and would overlook that when listing the qualities of a lamp. But it does make air move by heating it, causing it to rise. A fan also cools people off. So ask if a lamp cools people off. I bet nobody ever asked that question before. Well, I suppose it might. Maybe it makes hot air rise above it, pulling cooler air in the bottom to replace it and creating a cooling air current. Even harder: a fan creates a force that tries to accelerate it. Does a lamp do that? Maybe. Does a lamp have something that spins? Does a fan create light? Maybe doing this kind of thing creates useful insight.

You can do the same thing with cause and effect, with a variable thrown in:
"x causes mass" vs. "removing energy from water causes ice"
So, possible questions (which can be starter theories as well):
- Is mass caused by a modification of something that already exists?
- Does removing energy from something create mass?
- Is mass equivalent to a solid?
- Is there a "liquid" form of mass?

Just throwing stuff out there...a rough sketch.

An interesting related link, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. Some of these techniques could be applied: http://www.mazur.net/triz/
 
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<h2>1. Has anyone successfully programmed a computer system to evolve theories?</h2><p>Yes, there have been several successful attempts at programming computer systems to evolve theories. One notable example is the Eureqa program developed by Cornell University researchers, which uses genetic algorithms to generate mathematical models to explain complex data.</p><h2>2. How does a computer system evolve theories?</h2><p>A computer system can evolve theories through a process called genetic programming, which involves creating a set of rules or equations and then using genetic algorithms to generate new variations of those rules. The computer then tests these variations against a given dataset and selects the most successful ones to continue evolving.</p><h2>3. What are the potential applications of using computer systems to evolve theories?</h2><p>The potential applications of using computer systems to evolve theories are vast. This technology can be used in fields such as artificial intelligence, data analysis, and even in scientific research to generate new hypotheses and theories.</p><h2>4. Are there any limitations to using computer systems to evolve theories?</h2><p>Yes, there are some limitations to using computer systems to evolve theories. One limitation is that the theories generated may not always be easily understandable or explainable by humans. Additionally, the quality of the theories produced is highly dependent on the quality of the initial dataset and the algorithms used.</p><h2>5. How can computer systems that evolve theories benefit scientific research?</h2><p>Computer systems that evolve theories can benefit scientific research by providing new and innovative ideas and hypotheses that may have been overlooked by human researchers. They can also help to identify patterns and relationships in large datasets that would be difficult for humans to detect on their own.</p>

1. Has anyone successfully programmed a computer system to evolve theories?

Yes, there have been several successful attempts at programming computer systems to evolve theories. One notable example is the Eureqa program developed by Cornell University researchers, which uses genetic algorithms to generate mathematical models to explain complex data.

2. How does a computer system evolve theories?

A computer system can evolve theories through a process called genetic programming, which involves creating a set of rules or equations and then using genetic algorithms to generate new variations of those rules. The computer then tests these variations against a given dataset and selects the most successful ones to continue evolving.

3. What are the potential applications of using computer systems to evolve theories?

The potential applications of using computer systems to evolve theories are vast. This technology can be used in fields such as artificial intelligence, data analysis, and even in scientific research to generate new hypotheses and theories.

4. Are there any limitations to using computer systems to evolve theories?

Yes, there are some limitations to using computer systems to evolve theories. One limitation is that the theories generated may not always be easily understandable or explainable by humans. Additionally, the quality of the theories produced is highly dependent on the quality of the initial dataset and the algorithms used.

5. How can computer systems that evolve theories benefit scientific research?

Computer systems that evolve theories can benefit scientific research by providing new and innovative ideas and hypotheses that may have been overlooked by human researchers. They can also help to identify patterns and relationships in large datasets that would be difficult for humans to detect on their own.

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