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Rating: The monumental volume of over 520 pages (10 chapters) by science popularizer and philosopher Hofstadter, aims to present the research developed in the field of cognitive sciences over fifteen years (starting from '77) by a large group of people (FARGonauts). The author specifies that he preferred to replace the term 'artificial intelligence' (AI is its acronym) with that of cognitive sciences. The reason is that it more exhaustively and deeply describes all research interests that occur in the human mind-brain, framing the commitment as purely scientific. Analogy is a fundamental and enigmatic intellectual process. Important thinkers have argued that analogy allows penetrating the understanding of realities that would otherwise remain unknown.
Hofstadter's endeavor is extremely ambitious, as it tackles the subject through an innovative exploration of computational models of human creativity. A very complex task, because any attempt at mechanization leads to sterile and dead-end paths. Programming a computer requires rigid and exact processes, but through this path, one moves away from the meaning of creativity. Hofstadter fully understands this, therefore he decided to use 'fluid analogies'. Thus, the path of creativity becomes a journey in multiple directions, no longer being completely elusive, but assuming more evident contours. The term fluid was chosen, because it better conveys the meanings of adaptability, ductility, continuity, smoothness, agility, mutability... Just like water (H2O), a fluid that responds to pressures by changing shape in a docile and flowing manner. H2O molecules (a fluttering aggregate) are held together not very tightly, by hydrogen bonds. According to a known theory of water (not entirely clear), H2O molecules continuously create short momentary associations through the (very weak) hydrogen bond, between an O (oxygen) of one molecule that can bond with an H (hydrogen) of another. Every microsecond, in each microscopic drop of water, thousands of billions of complexes of randomly shaped molecules would form and separate. Thanks to this incredible, dynamic, unstable, and stochastic phenomenon, the well-known properties of water emerge.
The above-mentioned part serves to explain the peculiarities of the fluidity of thought. Thought is activated as a statistical consequence of an incalculable multitude of tiny independent and subcognitive actions that take place in parallel. Concepts possess this fluidity, and analogies are an essential manifestation of it. All this is related to the meaning of the book's title, the FARG (Fluid Analogies Research Group), and the FARGonauts. The objective of FARG is to develop accurate computer models of concepts and analogical thinking, in precisely designed microenvironments. Moreover, it studies, classifies, and reflects on mental processes at a much more general and unrestricted level. Even from the simplest examples, problems emerge that represent a constant challenge to think creatively. But at the same time, the program can establish significant analogies, make logical leaps, provide more than one correct answer, and discern between weak and strong, trivial or deep ones, as occurs among human beings. The book's structure, essentially chronological, develops through sequences, explorations, mathematical games, constructions, creations of characters and artistic typographic alphabets in various styles, anagrams, even the random arrangement of objects on a table. All this is achieved through a series of computer projects: Seek-Whence, Jumbo, Numbo, Copycat, Tabletop, Letter Spirit.
The language and terminology are very intricate, but at the same time, they are brilliant and intriguing for the discussions and themes dealt with, especially for constructive criticism. Each chapter contains a preface written by the author, intended to introduce the reader to some personal historical and philosophical aspects, through a more informal writing. The prologue to the book contains a brief history and the intellectual tasks of FARG (Povo, Italy, September '93, Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of Trento). This is an infinitesimal part of the concepts, information, programs, and curiosities contained in the volume, as it is technically and humanly impossible to convey them all in a 'review'. I would like to point out that the quality of Adelphi's book is first-rate (fine and elegant), both in the typographical printing and in the excellent translation (considering the considerable difficulties related to the subject addressed). When I read this impressive book, taking quite some time, I was completely fascinated by the elaborations and reasoning expressed, endowed with an unusual and unsuspected almost poetic sensitivity that emerged through the writing. I could say, mathematically speaking, that the interest and curiosity towards the work were directly proportional to its complexity. Such a reading managed to 'illuminate' me on an impressive number of considerations and reflections concerning creative acts and mechanisms contained in the substrates of the human mind, which exist at various levels.
Cognitive greetings ©.
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