4 - Can a Swarm Be Embodied?

Abstract

This chapter explores the concept of embodiment from the perspective of biological and artificial swarms, with the aim of determining the presence or absence of weak and strong embodiment, and the form that each takes. It begins by describing the main characteristics of three examples of swarms: swarm intelligence algorithms, swarm robotics, and biological swarms; before exploring questions about their embodiment. This exploration is pursued in two parts—first in terms of artificial swarms, and secondly in terms of biological swarms. A consideration of the individuals in artificial swarms led to the conclusion that they were not strongly embodied, even though collective effects emerged as a result of their interactions. Unlike living organisms, they are not autopoietic systems, and they are neither mechanistically nor phenomenally embodied. The embodiment of biological swarms is considered. It is argued that the individual insects in such swarms are strongly embodied: whether they should be viewed as mechanistically or phenomenally embodied could be seen as a matter of personal preference. The question of whether a biological swarm could itself be viewed as strongly embodied is also addressed.