Homeostasis and Digital Proto-Emotions in Emergence

The article analyzes biological asymmetry as the foundation of meaning, pointing out that for living organisms, certain states are critical due to the necessity of maintaining physical integrity. The author contrasts mechanical data processing with biological dynamic regulation based on homeostasis and allostasis. A key role is played here by interoception—the system for monitoring the body's internal state, which, combined with prediction, allows the organism to anticipate needs and react to threats before they occur. The text suggests that emotions are not an addition to intelligence but result from the necessity of managing the organism's resources. In the context of Bob Burgin's book Emergence, these reflections lead to a question about the possibility of true emotions existing in digital systems devoid of a biological body.