Adaptation in open systems: reflection as a backbone

Abstract

The design principles behind ReActalk (reflective actor kernel) implementation are presented. ReActalk uses an organizational approach of reflection and is meant to provide a framework for the study of adaptation in the context of agents and open systems. Since open systems interact with a fluid reality, they must adapt in order to mitigate the consequences of the narrowness and the brittleness of traditional systems. ReActalk uses reflection as a framework for adaptive processes evolving in a dynamic environment. It is shown how reflection can implement adaptive processes, and how adaptive mechanisms are actualized in ReActalk. Based on Gregory Bateson's work (1979), adaptation is defined either as a modification of one's behavior or as a modification of one's environment. The authors indicate how to gel from Bateson's view to an architecture suited for adaptation. It is shown how ReActalk allows both types of adaptation.<>