Stupidity and the Ouroboros model

Abstract

Since decades Artificial Intelligence is striving for an understanding and the production of general intelligence. In an attempt to put the relevant issues into a wider frame, the question shall be asked whether something could be learned from agents or situations characterized by an obvious lack of intelligence, i.e. "stupidity". The Ouroboros Model is a novel proposal for a biologically inspired cognitive architecture. It has earlier been proposed how the Ouroboros Model can shed light on selected cognitive functions including (human) reasoning, learning and emotions. In this short note, implications of the hypothesized structures, relations and processes shall be scrutinized with respect to their possible value for illuminating stupidity and dullness, - and in the end again, natural and artificial general intelligence. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.