'A Vehicle of Symbols and Nothing More.' George Romanes, Theory of Mind, Information, and Samuel Butler

TL;DR

This paper explores historical and philosophical perspectives on mind, information, and evolution, highlighting Romanes' and Clifford's ideas, and how Samuel Butler's informational view aligns with modern scientific insights.

Contribution

It clarifies the evolution of the concept of mind and information from 19th-century philosophy to modern scientific understanding, emphasizing Butler's informational perspective.

Findings

Romanes linked minds to 'ejects' and extended this to the universe.

Samuel Butler's informational view aligns with modern DNA and brain research.

Historical ideas about mind and information are relevant to current scientific theories.

Abstract

Today's 'theory of mind' (ToM) concept is rooted in the distinction of nineteenth century philosopher William Clifford between 'objects' that can be directly perceived, and 'ejects,' such as the mind of another person, which are inferred from one's subjective knowledge of one's own mind. A founder, with Charles Darwin, of the discipline of comparative psychology, George Romanes considered the minds of animals as ejects, an idea that could be generalized to 'society as eject' and, ultimately, 'the world as an eject' - mind in the universe. Yet, Romanes and Clifford only vaguely connected mind with the abstraction we call 'information,' which needs 'a vehicle of symbols' - a material transporting medium. However, Samuel Butler was able to address, in informational terms depleted of theological trappings, both organic evolution and mind in the universe. This view harmonizes with insights arising from modern DNA research, the relative immortality of 'selfish' genes, and some startling recent developments in brain research.