Abstract
The field of optimization metaheuristics has a long history of
finding inspiration in natural systems. Starting from classic
methods such as Genetic Algorithms and Ant Colony Optimization, more recent methods claim to be inspired by natural
(and sometimes even supernatural) systems and phenomena -
from birds and barnacles to reincarnation and zombies. Since
2014 we publish a humorous website, The Bestiary of Evolutionary Computation, to catalog these methods, witnessing
an explosion of metaphor-heavy algorithms in the literature.
While metaphors can be powerful inspiration tools, we argue
that the emergence of hundreds of barely discernible algorithmic variants under different labels and nomenclatures has
been counterproductive to the scientific progress of the field,
as it neither improves our ability to understand and simulate
biological systems, nor contributes generalizable knowledge
or design principles for global optimization approaches. In
this short paper we discuss some of the possible causes of this
trend, its negative consequences to the field, as well as some
efforts aimed at moving the area of metaheuristics towards a
better balance between inspiration and scientific soundness.
finding inspiration in natural systems. Starting from classic
methods such as Genetic Algorithms and Ant Colony Optimization, more recent methods claim to be inspired by natural
(and sometimes even supernatural) systems and phenomena -
from birds and barnacles to reincarnation and zombies. Since
2014 we publish a humorous website, The Bestiary of Evolutionary Computation, to catalog these methods, witnessing
an explosion of metaphor-heavy algorithms in the literature.
While metaphors can be powerful inspiration tools, we argue
that the emergence of hundreds of barely discernible algorithmic variants under different labels and nomenclatures has
been counterproductive to the scientific progress of the field,
as it neither improves our ability to understand and simulate
biological systems, nor contributes generalizable knowledge
or design principles for global optimization approaches. In
this short paper we discuss some of the possible causes of this
trend, its negative consequences to the field, as well as some
efforts aimed at moving the area of metaheuristics towards a
better balance between inspiration and scientific soundness.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the LIFELIKE Computing Systems Workshop 2021 |
| Publisher | CEUR-WS.org |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Volume | 3007 |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Nov 2021 |
| Event | LIFELIKE Computing Systems Workshop 2021 - Duration: 19 Jul 2021 → 19 Jul 2021 |
Publication series
| Name | CEUR Workshop Proceedings |
|---|---|
| Publisher | CEUR |
| Volume | 3007 |
| ISSN (Print) | 1613-0073 |
Workshop
| Workshop | LIFELIKE Computing Systems Workshop 2021 |
|---|---|
| Period | 19/07/21 → 19/07/21 |