A theory of intelligence: networked problem solving in animal societies

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical framework explaining how collective intelligence in animal societies emerges from networked problem solving, influenced by thermodynamics and problem accumulation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theory linking societal network entropy to emergent intelligence and economic growth, emphasizing the role of interconnected problem solving.

Findings

Society's intelligence increases with network entropy of individuals and problems.

Economic growth correlates with the square of network entropy.

Networked problem solving enhances collective intelligence.

Abstract

A society's single emergent, increasing intelligence arises partly from the thermodynamic advantages of networking the innate intelligence of different individuals, and partly from the accumulation of solved problems. Economic growth is proportional to the square of the network entropy of a society's population times the network entropy of the number of the society's solved problems.