Curb your self-modifying code

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Publication date
2022
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04B - Conference paper
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2022 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC). Proceedings
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Pages / Duration
2607-2612
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IEEE
Place of publication / Event location
New York
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Abstract
Self-modifying code has many intriguing applications in a broad range of fields including software security, artificial general intelligence, and open-ended evolution. Having control over self-modifying code, however, is still an open challenge since it is a balancing act between providing as much freedom as possible so as not to limit possible solutions, while at the same time imposing restriction to avoid security issues and invalid code or solutions. In the present study, I provide a prototype implementation of how one might curb self-modifying code by introducing control mechanisms for code modifications within specific regions and for specific transitions between code and data. I show that this is possible to achieve with the so-called allagmatic method - a framework to formalise, model, implement, and interpret complex systems inspired by Gilbert Simondon’s philosophy of individuation and Alfred North Whitehead’s philosophy of organism. Thereby, the allagmatic method serves as guidance for self-modification based on concepts defined in a metaphysical framework. I conclude that the allagmatic method seems to be a suitable framework for control mechanisms in self-modifying code and that there are intriguing analogies between the presented control mechanisms and gene regulation.
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IEEE SMC 2022
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Conference start date
09.10.2022
Conference end date
12.10.2022
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ISBN
978-1-6654-5258-8
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Language
English
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Yes
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Published
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Closed
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Citation
Christen, P. (2022). Curb your self-modifying code. 2022 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC). Proceedings, 2607–2612. https://doi.org/10.1109/SMC53654.2022.9945160