%0 Journal Article %A Mann, Stephen Francis %A Pain, Ross Alexander %+ Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society %T Teleosemantics and the free energy principle : %G eng %U https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000A-991A-D %R 10.1007/s10539-022-09868-9 %7 2022-07-27 %D 2022 %* Review method: peer-reviewed %X The free energy principle is notoriously difficult to understand. In this paper, we relate the principle to a framework that philosophers of biology are familiar with: Ruth Millikan’s teleosemantics. We argue that: (i) systems that minimise free energy are systems with a proper function; and (ii) Karl Friston’s notion of implicit modelling can be understood in terms of Millikan’s notion of mapping relations. Our analysis reveals some surprising formal similarities between the two frameworks, and suggests interesting lines of future research. We hope this will aid further philosophical evaluation of the free energy principle. %K Teleosemantics, The free energy principle, Active inference, Proper functions, Markov blankets %J Biology and Philosophy %V 37 %] 34 %I Springer %@ 1572-84040169-3867