Algorithmic Simplicity and Relevance

The human mind is known to be sensitive to complexity. For instance, the visual system reconstructs hidden parts of objects following a principle of maximum simplicity. We suggest here that higher cognitive processes, such as the selection of relevant situations, are sensitive to variations of compl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAlgorithmic Probability and Friends. Bayesian Prediction and Artificial Intelligence pp. 119 - 130
Main Author Dessalles, Jean-Louis
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Berlin, Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg
SeriesLecture Notes in Computer Science
Subjects
interestingness
relevance
Simplicity
unexpectedness
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Summary:The human mind is known to be sensitive to complexity. For instance, the visual system reconstructs hidden parts of objects following a principle of maximum simplicity. We suggest here that higher cognitive processes, such as the selection of relevant situations, are sensitive to variations of complexity. Situations are relevant to human beings when they appear simpler to describe than to generate. This definition offers a predictive (i.e. falsifiable) model for the selection of situations worth reporting (interestingness) and for what individuals consider an appropriate move in conversation.
ISBN:3642449573
9783642449574
ISSN:0302-9743
1611-3349
DOI:10.1007/978-3-642-44958-1_9