ERGODIC-THEORY OF COMMUNICATION

Communication consists of symbolic exchanges that are fundamental to s ocial life, especially to the development of knowledge and civilizatio n. The mechanisms granting these exchanges are investigated within mor phodynamics, a new theory of complex systems. The theory assumes that these systems have ergodic behaviours in response to the random charac ter of the natural environment; it follows that principles of conserva tion and growth govern long-term evolution. The theory further admits a cognitivist interpretation asserting rules for transformation betwee n behaviours and symbolic representations, as well as for their exchan ge between partners. For instance, these rules govern such activities as observation of reality, construction and transmission of knowledge, and subsequent invention and production of artefacts. Thus, the theor y yields an epistemology that satisfies the objectivity requirements o f exact science. In addition, the paper discusses several examples, in cluding processes of early cognition as described in infant psychology .