A horon is a bounded information object that maintains its identity, has internal states, computes through switches, and couples predictively with its symvironment.
In one sentence:
A horon is an encapsulated information object that can distinguish itself from its surroundings, maintain internal state, process information, and act in relation to possible future states of its symvironment.
Four conditions of a horon
| Condition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Distinguishability | It can be differentiated from its symvironment. |
| Internal state-space | It has multiple possible internal states. |
| Computation | It transforms inputs and internal states into outputs, actions, or further states. |
| Predictive coupling | Its internal states are organized in relation to future-relevant states of its symvironment. |
So, a horon is not just any object. A rock is distinguishable and has physical states, but it does not meaningfully compute or predictively couple. A cell, mind, institution, or sufficiently autonomous technological system may qualify.
Examples
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Biological horon | cell, organism, immune system, ecosystem |
| Cognitive horon | mind, belief, attention-state, intention, self-model |
| Social horon | family, company, university, research community, civilization |
| Technological horon | AI system, database, self-driving system, power grid |
| Cultural-symbolic horon | language, scientific theory, religion, legal system |
Relation to covolution theory
In covolution theory, living and thinking systems are not passive objects. They are horons: self-maintaining, information-processing entities that interact with and partly construct their symvironments.
A horon is therefore the basic unit of covolutionary organization.
Very short version
A horon is a self-bounded, information-processing unit that maintains itself and predictively interacts with its world.
Or even shorter:
A horon is an information object with boundary, state, computation, and future-directed coupling.
댓글 0