Defense of the Ansatz for Dynamical Hierarchies

Abstract

Gross and McMullin [Artificial Life, 7, 355–365] criticize the conclusions of our article on dynamical hierarchies [Artificial Life, 7, 329–353]. In this note we respond to their criticisms. After clarifying our ansatz, we argue that the simulations presented by Gross and McMullin present no evidence against the ansatz, in part because their simulations use a different simulation framework, and in part because their simulations are no less complex than ours. We also clarify why the micelles in our simulations are third-order emergent structures, and why we emphasize realism in our simulation.