This chapter provides a few more examples of social structures in nature, such as "why . . . do birds congregate in avian megalopolises?" More importantly, however, Bloom introduces the five elements used in what he calls a learning machine: "(1) conformity enforcers; (2) diversity generators; (3) inner-judges; (4) resource shifters; (5) intergroup tournaments" (42). These are the five elements of a complex learning system.

Back to chapter 3: The Embryonic Meme
On to chapter 5: Mammals and the Further Rise of Mind
Up to the Index.