artificial life

Chapter 1: Exposition

1.1 Introduction

Reproduction is the most basic need and motivation of all successful organisms on the planet. It is natural for it to be a matter of intrigue and interest. Throughout history we have had an interest in the consequences of man creating life. Pygmalion and Frankenstein are two well-known stories on the topic.

The advent of the computer has allowed us to design incredibly complex systems, some of which exhibit properties associated with living entities. The study of Artificial Life strives to define what is means to be a form of life, to create systems that model forms of life with which we are familiar, and to create new and unique systems that show life in a new light.

Some systems, such as Cellular Automata, show complex behaviors that are not discernable from the simple rules that govern them. Other systems, like graphical L-Systems model the physical structure of life through simple rules and self-similarity. Systems such as Genetic Algorithms and Genetic Programming use “natural selection” to find solutions to complex problems.

By studying these systems, we can gain deeper insight into how the forms of life we know originated, evolved, and how they now function.