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ZENODO
Book . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Book . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Book . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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A Theory of Computational Evolution

Authors: Woodward, Vance;

A Theory of Computational Evolution

Abstract

Published in 2013. This book presents a physicalist theory of evolution viewed through the lens of computation. The author argues that biological life is not just like a computer but is a computer by definition, specifically distinguishing between biological hardware, termed "sewch," and engineered hardware, termed "terch". The text defines a computer as a special machine that transforms symbols rather than just physical objects, a process that requires the presence of a mind to assign meaning. The author outlines a hierarchy of computational evolution starting from pre-intelligence (the tendency to endure) and moving through stages of proto-intelligence (homeostasis), intelligence (robust memory systems), pre-sentience (predictive modeling), and sentience. A significant portion of the book explains how sentience, control, and free will emerge mechanically from robustly recursive predictive modeling. The theory concludes by projecting the future of computation into meta-sentience (rationality) and super-sentience (self-programming), suggesting that sentient engineered beings are an inevitable next step in evolutionary history.

Keywords

Terch, Vance Ashley Woodward, Sentience, Philosophy of Mind, Super-sentience, Technological Singularity, Physicalism, Biological Computation, Meta-sentience, Meatbot, Predictive Modeling, Sewch, Computational Evolution, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, Homeostasis, Recursive Modeling

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green