Title: Social Intentions

Author: Eric Werner, Ph.D.


Contact: eric.werner@cellnomica.com

Abstract

Cooperation among a group of agents constrains those agents to have a certain cognitive structure. The agents require social intentions. We investigate the properties of intentional states an show how they fit the demands of a theory of communication and social structure. The aim being to explain cooperation among a group of autonomous communicating agents.

The fundamental question we face when dealing with several agents is how to get those agents to achieve a social goal. By a social goal we mean a goal not achievable by any one agent. Central to the coordination of parallel processes and autonomous agents is some form of communication. This communication must be able to change the intentions of other agents. Furthermore, large scale cooperation made possible by social structures requires relatively permanent agent intentions or roles. Thus the notion of intentional state is central to both a theory of agent communication and social structure. We look at the function of intentional states in communication and social activity in a group of independent agents.