Toward a Constructive Notion of Functionality

Costa, Antônio Carlos da Rocha; Castilho, José Mauro Volkmer de; Claudio, Dalcidio Moraes

doi:10.1080/01969729508927507

“…[2]). Thus, after some preliminary conceptual clarifications on the notion of function as it applies to general systems -that we call systemic function [3], [4] -we have been concentrating our efforts in the formalization of a interaction-base notion of social function, as it may apply to agent societies [5], [6], [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elementary Social Functions: Concept and Interrelation to Social Dependence Relations

Costa

¹

,

Dimuro

²

2012

2012 Third Brazilian Workshop on Social Simulation

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This paper introduces a general notion of elementary systemic functions and shows how elementary systemic functions can be instantiated as elementary social functions in agent societies, thus allowing for a functional view of agent interactions. The paper shows a way to interrelate elementary social functions and social dependence relations, for social dependence relations determined by maintenance goals. Also, the paper introduces the notions of elementary functional cycles and elementary functional networks, with functional cycles constituting the operational bases of functional networks, and shows how such structures interrelate to social dependence networks. An example social system is analysed from this elementary functional point of view. Starting from its social dependence network, an elementary functional network is determined for such system. The distinction between elementary social functions and maintenance goals is emphasized in the analysis of the example.

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“…In this section, we build on previous work on the dynamics of multi-agent organizations [4,5,6,7,3,13] in order to coordinate the notions of organization and exchange values, so that systems of exchange values can become useful tools for the organization of multiagent systems.…”

Section: Social Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In its simplest form, the organization of a society S, at a given time t, is conceived as a structure O t S = (A t S , E t S ) where A t S is the set of agents of the society at time t, and E t S ⊆ A t S ×A t S is the set of social exchanges that are happening at that time 6 . In the following, we will only consider the static (synchronic) case, where the organization of a society is not changing while the society is functioning.…”

Section: The Notion Of Social Organizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Systems of exchange values as tools for multi-agent organizations

Dimuro

¹

,

Costa

²

,

Palazzo

³

2005

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This paper introduces systems of exchange values as tools for the organization of multi-agent systems. Systems of exchange values are defined on the basis of the theory of social exchanges, developed by Piaget and Homans. A model of social organization is proposed, where social relations are construed as social exchanges and exchange values are put into use in the support of the continuity of the performance of social exchanges. The dynamics of social organizations is formulated in terms of the regulation of exchanges of values, so that social equilibrium is connected to the continuity of the interactions. The concept of supervisor of social equilibrium is introduced as a centralized mechanism for solving the problem of the equilibrium of the organization The equilibrium supervisor solves such problem making use of a qualitative Markov Decision Process that uses numerical intervals for the representation of exchange values.

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“…In its simplest form, the organization of a society S, at a given time t, is conceived as a structure O S is the set of social exchanges that are happening at that time 6 . In the following, we will only consider the static (synchronic) case, where the organization of a society is not changing while the society is functioning.…”

Section: The Notion Of Social Organizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systems of exchange values as tools for multi-agent organizations

Dimuro¹,

Costa²,

Palazzo³

2005

J. Braz. Comp. Soc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper introduces systems of exchange values as tools for the organization of multi-agent systems. Systems of exchange values are defined on the basis of the theory of social exchanges, developed by Piaget and Homans. A model of social organization is proposed, where social relations are construed as social exchanges and exchange values are put into use in the support of the continuity of the performance of social exchanges. The dynamics of social organizations is formulated in terms of the regulation of exchanges of values, so that social equilibrium is connected to the continuity of the interactions. The concept of supervisor of social equilibrium is introduced as a centralized mechanism for solving the problem of the equilibrium of the organization The equilibrium supervisor solves such problem making use of a qualitative Markov Decision Process that uses numerical intervals for the representation of exchange values.

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Toward a Constructive Notion of Functionality

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Elementary Social Functions: Concept and Interrelation to Social Dependence Relations

Elementary Social Functions: Concept and Interrelation to Social Dependence Relations

Systems of exchange values as tools for multi-agent organizations

Systems of exchange values as tools for multi-agent organizations

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