Towards information based space-time patterns as a foundation for agent representation in dynamical systems

We present some arguments why existing methods for rep- resenting agents fall short in applications crucial to artificial life. Using a thought experiment involving a fictitious dy- namical systems model of the biosphere we argue that the metabolism, motility, and the concept of counterfactual vari- ation should be compatible with any agent representation in dynamical systems. We then propose an information theo- retic notion which we believe can serve as the basic building block of an agent defintion. We argue that these patterns are capable of solving the problems mentioned before. We also show some preliminary results of applying the notion to a small game of life cellular automaton.