Emergence of Meaning from Symbolic Systems
- Meaning arises when patterns of symbols reflect and represent aspects of reality, creating understanding
- Hofstadter’s work suggests that consciousness itself may be a “strange loop” of self-referential meaning
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Douglas Hofstadter’s Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid explores the nature of consciousness through self-reference, strange loops, and recursive patterns. By linking Gödel’s theorem, Escher’s art, and Bach’s music, Hofstadter illustrates how meaning and self-awareness emerge. This interdisciplinary work is essential for understanding consciousness and complexity.
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