Rise of the Self-Replicators

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Self-Reproducing Machines: The Evolution of an Idea

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 1-10

3. Animals and Machines: Changing Relationships in the 17th & 18th Centuries

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 11-16

4. Babbage Meets Darwin: Mechanisation and Evolution in the 19th Century

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 17-28

5. Robot Evolution and the Fate of Humanity: Pop Culture and Futurology in the Early 20th Century

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 29-40

6. From Idea to Reality: Designing and Building Self-Reproducing Machines in the Mid-20th Century

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 41-68

7. More Recent Developments: Signposts to Work from the 1960s to the Present

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 69-81

8. The Next Evolution: Reflection and Outlook

   • Tim Taylor, Alan Dorin

   Pages 83-102

9. Back Matter

   Pages 103-121

   PDF

Is it possible to design robots and other machines that can reproduce and evolve? And, if so, what are the implications: for the machines, for ourselves, for our environment, and for the future of life on Earth and elsewhere?

In this book the authors provide a chronological survey and comprehensive archive of the early history of thought about machine self-reproduction and evolution. They discuss contributions from philosophy, science fiction, science and engineering, and uncover many examples that have never been discussed in the Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life literature before now. In the final chapter they provide a synthesis of the concepts discussed, offer their views on the field’s future directions, and call for a broad community discussion about the significant implications of intelligent evolving machines.


The book will be of interest to general readers, and a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and historians engaged with ideas in artificial intelligence, artificial life, robotics, and evolutionary computing.

• Artificial Life (ALife)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Evolutionary Computing
• Robots
• Self-replicants
• Self-replicating Machines
• History of Science
• History of Technology

“In addition to describing historical sources and summarizing their ideas, the authors offer full-text, translated quotations, which makes the book an extremely useful reference source for studying artificial life philosophy that focuses on self-replication. … Rise of the Self-Replicators is undoubtedly exciting and inspirational for its primary audience—fellow members of the ALife community—as well as for philosophers, science fiction enthusiasts, and futurists.” (Yulia Frumer, Technology and Culture, Vol. 62 (4), October, 2021)

“Their book brings to light many historical and scientific facts that have never been published in the modern literature before. … Taylor and Dorin have written their book Rise of the Self-Replicators in such a way that I fully recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the origins of the idea of artificial objects that can reproduce and evolve. … I believe that all open-minded readers could benefit from the knowledge that they get from this excellent book.” (J. Čejková, Artificial Life, September 13, 2021)

“The book Rise of the Self-Replicators by Taylor and Dorin provides an intriguing historical perspective on the origin of the ideas around self-replication and evolution in machines. … Rise of the Self-Replicators is a great read, and highly recommended to all the readers of the journal and their collaborators.” (Stefano Nichele, Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines, Vol. 22, 2021)

• Independent Researcher, Edinburgh, UK

  Tim Taylor

• Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

  Alan Dorin

Tim Taylor is a scientist, author, and coder, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He pursues research and development in artificial life, agent-based modelling and artificial intelligence, and also has a deep interest in the history of these fields. He has held research positions in various leading universities in the UK and Australia, including Edinburgh, York and Goldsmiths. He currently works part-time (and remotely) as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Data Science and AI at Monash University, while also pursuing his own research and writing interests as an independent researcher. He is an associate examiner for the University of London, and an elected board member of the International Society for Artificial Life. 

Alan Dorin is an Associate Professor at Monash University in Australia where he leads the Computational and Collective Intelligence group within the Department of Data Science and AI. His research interests include artificial life, ecological modelling, insect-plant interaction and simulation, biologically-inspired electronic media art, generative art, and the history of technology. He promotes an understanding of the relationships between technology, society and the natural environment by encouraging interdisciplinary curiosity.

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