Response to the Impossibility of Impossible Cultures

Response to “The Impossibility of Impossible Cultures” The premise of the article (as I read it) is that by adopting a framework used by other scientific fields, language and culture may be treated as theoretical constructs. The implied research program is to systematically map out the space of possible cultures and languages given the constraints of our brain and physical laws. As an engineer this approach felt very natural and I enjoyed the many isomorphisms between various fields. At the end of the paper, however, I felt as though I was left hanging - What would the research program you are suggesting look like? Where would one start? Would this approach really be useful? As I pondered these questions I tried to formulate my own answers. As I am far from an expert in any of the fields discussed in the article, I will simply share my naive thoughts on where I would start. I will focus on culture but I expect the questions are valid for language as well.

Cultural Variables and Fitness Functions The idea of a culturespace is derived from the idea of a fitness or energy landscape, often used in evolutionary dynamics (Eigen and Schuster) and neural networks (Werbos). To create such a landscape there must be independent variables on the axes and an equation that quantifies fitness. What are these variables for a culture? Can we remake Figure 2 to define the “elements” of a culture? Would identifying the elements naturally define what constitutes a distinct type of culture rather than different instantiations of the same theoretical culture?

What are the variables for a culture that impact fitness? I will offer two classes of variables, which are almost certainly wrong but may be a start. To be sustainable (possible), a culture must do two things well enough to survive. First there must be systems in place to transmit symbols from one brain to another (language, art, music, math, email) through both time and space. It is only through systems of information sharing that people can bind together (communities) and pass down their symbols from generation to generation (education). Here we are constrained by our own brains and physical means of expressing ideas. Second, there must be systems in place for transporting materials from one place to another. It is only in this way that people can widely spread symbols and objects and share responsibility for the survival of the community. From the transport of materials are derived economic, political, transportation, education, energy and other systems. Here we are constrained by mathematical and physical laws. Defining these ideas so broadly allows various cultures to adopt many ways of maximizing the transmission of symbols and materials while minimizing the resources needed. For example, a hunter-gatherer culture may be as fit as the culture in Boston. With that said this way of thinking exposes that some cultures may be sustainable only for low or high population densities. Likewise, what is fit now may not be fit at some later time.

Identifying the elements of culture will be tricky business and I expect many to dismiss it as impossible. Perhaps some insight could be gained by practicing the building of figure 2 for a more contained field such as computer languages. These languages mutate, hybridize and spread quickly and can be easily traced throughout recent history.

Once the elements are identified, an equation would need to be constructed to quantify Response to “The Impossibility of Impossible Cultures” 2 fitness. As in the example of the hand, the variables would be intimately intertwined, and therefore any fitness function would almost certainly be nonlinear (e.g. some permutations work together synergistically, others would counteract).

Utility Being an engineer, I could not help questioning the utility of viewing culture from a theoretical perspective. As proposed in the article, a new theoretical perspective may lead to new hypotheses, new experiments and scientific advancement; Are cultures really stable or do they necessarily exist far from equilibrium (Prigione, Bak)? Can we develop measurements to diagnose the “health” of a culture? Can we predict which elements will stay and which will go when cultures collide?

I would like to offer another possible use of mapping a cultural landscape – to engineer (or reengineer) a culture. Understanding why cultures are fit would allow someone attempting to change a culture (policy maker, activist) to make more directed and informed changes. For example, enforcing a law (Prohibition) can backfire (bathtub gin), yet other changes (media campaign against smoking) may have a lasting effect (decreases in smoking). When faced with a problem (environment, energy, health care), which direction should a culture head? If we interpret the culturespace as more than a cute analogy, it would imply that a change in culture is moving from one fitness peak to another. Moving from one peak to another, however, may force a culture to progress through regions of lower fitness. Doing so would require cultural energy (time, breaking historical inertia, economic and political will). But there may be many paths from one peak to another and a theoretical understanding would help steer reformers along favorable trajectories.

Additional Thoughts • There are at least two fields, synthetic biology (Venter) and artificial life (Langton), currently wrestling with how to build systems with high fitness from smaller parts. • Another possible approach to mapping cultures is to use the idea of a game tree (checkers and chess). As a culture evolves it makes choices and moves down onto a branch of the game tree. It makes these decision based upon a minimax (von Neumann) algorithm (at each “turn” minimize cost while maximizing function). Earlier choices will clearly affect the strategies that will be successful. • If a hypothesis is derived from the idea of a culturespace are there empirical methods (tools) that exist for testing? How would a hypothesis be falsified? • Can the idea of a culturespace explain (predict) what happens when cultures compete and/or cooperate? How do these interactions influence the culturespace?

I offer these ideas not because I think they are right, but rather because I think that are some of the first questions one would need to be asked to begin mapping out a culturespace

Joe Tranquillo Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering