Introductio to Informatic

n Lectur 7: Modelin
s th Worl
e

Symbol and
s
The
The Information

Worl
d

Symbols are abstractions of the World

Relation

Sig
n

Thin
g

Easier to communicate, store, manipulate

Symbolic abstractions of the World

Allow us to manipulate the symbols to

create new ones
We can think about
hav not actuall observe
whichrealities
may
have
never
observed
but can
wecorrec an som are e
y
d
Som ar
understand
not
e
e t
d e

Agent
s

Formalizin Knowledg
e
g

When you can measure what you are

speaking
Lord Kelvin's
of and express it in numbers you
you
discoursing.
know that
on which But if you cannot measure
dictum
are
it and it in numbers. your knowledge is
expres of a very
and unsatisfactory kind.
s 1824-1907
meagr

Absolute scale of temperature, underwater

e telegraph cables, thermodynamics

Physics

The first science to construct precise, rigorous

f
ormal
theories of the world.
relating the operation of rules upon
symbols to the law- like behavior of the World.

Aristotle (384-322 BC) was first to relate

symbols
more explicitly to the external world and to
successively
clarify the nature of the symbol-world relation.

Understandi Natur wit Symbol

Aristotle (384-322 BC)
ng
e
h
s
First to relate symbols more explicitly to the external world

and to successively clarify the nature of the symbol-world

relation.

Student of Plato, educated Alexander the Great

first to consider specific observable factors which determine

motion.

In Physics

he recognized (mathematical) rules which could describe the

relation between an object's weight, the medium's density and
the consequent rate of motion (fall):

(1) for freely falling or freely rising bodies, speed is

proportional to the density of the medium.

(2) in forced motion, speed is proportional to the

force
applied and inversely proportional to the mass of
the
body moved first time that observable quantities had
been expressed in symbolic (numerical) form
allowing
the results of observations to be used in
calculations

The nature of causation

Raphaels Plato and Aristotle

http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/physics.html

Abstractin Relation
Galileo (1564-1642)
g
s

Progressive dissociation of the symbols from objects

The interrelationships among signs themselves studied

quite apart from the relations among the objects they represent

Previously, symbols were still generally regarded as inherent

properties of the referent objects themselves

Aristotles Physics postulated certain primary qualities/elements

such as Fire. Galileo regards "primary" properties as only
quantifie suc as size
those that can be
mathematically
d,
h
,

shape and motion.

Newton (16431727)

Extends process of
abstraction

Distinguishes between

representing
laws which
symbols

govern
subsequent
Arisingthe
from
observation
motion
represent initial conditions

Heinric Hert (1857Hertz

h Somezfacts about
1894)

First to broadcast and receive radio waves

Established that light is a form of

electromagnetic radiation.

His name is associated with the SI unit for

frequency

Principles of Mechanics (1894)

al was
to purge physics of mystical, undefined,
Go
measured
un entities
such as force
(which one can infer but not measure)

ysical
to be based only on measurable
Phtheories
qu
antities

the
results of

measurements

are
symbols.

Physical theory becomes about building

relationships among observationally-derived

symbols: model

what Hertz called "images."

Th Hertzia Modelin Paradig

most direct
and in a sense
the most
e n The
g
m
important problem which our conscious

knowledge of nature should enable us to solve

is the anticipation of future events, so that we
may arrange our present affairs in accordance
to such anticipiation (Hertz, 1894)

Symbols

Initial

(Semantics)

Encoding

(Images Conditions
)

Model
Formal
Rules
(syntax)

Predicted Result

????

Observed Result

(Pragmatics)
Measur
e

Measur
e

World1

Logical
Consequenc
e of Model

Physical
Laws

World2

Rober Rose (1934We must also believe that this causal order relating events in the
t world, cannbe brought1998)
external
into congruence with a logical or

implicative order in some appropriate logical, symbolic world of

propositions describing these events. When such a congruence is
established. Implications in the system become Prediction about the
casual order (Rosen 1985)
Formal Model

Decodin
g

Encodin
g

Logical Implication

Material World
Physical Causality

Let Observ Nature

s
e
!
What do you see?
Plants typically branch
out How Can we that
model
?

Observe the distinct parts

ols

Color them
Assign symb

Build Model

Initial State:
b -> a
a ->
ab
Doesnt

quite

W
ork!

b b
aa
b

a
ba
a
a
b
a
b

b
b

Psilophyta/Psilotu
m

Poly Method Ho To Solv It

aUnderstanding
: The Problem
w
e

1.

2.

First. You have to understand the problem.

What is the thing you want to find to answer
Explain the question to other people
What are the data? What is the condition?
Draw a figure. Introduce suitable notation.

the
problem

(the
unknown)?

If you can't solve a

problem, then there is an
easier

Devising A Plan (A Model)

problem you can solve: find it.

Second. Find the connection between the data and the unknown.
You may
need to consider auxiliary problems

Have you seen it before? Do you know a related or analogous

problem?

3.

4.

Could you restate the problem? Could you solve a part of the problem?
Could you derive something useful from the data?

Carrying Out The Plan

Third. Calculate the model using all data and conditions.
Do all the calculations, and check them as they go along.
Ask: "Can I see it is right?" and then, "Can I prove it is right?

Looking Back
Fourth. Examine the solution obtained.
Can you check the result?
Can you derive the solution differently?

Th proces of modelin
e s
g

Fibonac Number
Model
ciOu First
s!
Initial State:

B
B

-> A
->
BA
n=0 : B
n=1
n=2
n=3
n=4
n=5
n=6
n=7

:
:
:
:
:
:
:

A
BA
ABA
BAABA
ABABAABA
BAABAABABAABA
ABABAABABAABAABABAABA

Th length of the string is the

Fibonacci
e
5 8 13 21 34
55 89 ...
1 1 2 3 numbers

Fibonacci
in Nature

Sequenc
e

http://ccins.camosun.bc.ca/~jbritton/fibslide/jbfibslide.h
tm Romanesco:
http://alt.venus.co.uk/weed/fractals/romanesco.
htm

Individu assignme
al
nt Bo
The Blac
k