Quines are the fittest programs: Nesting algorithmic probability converges to constructors (2010.09646v1)

Abstract: In this article we explore the limiting behavior of the universal prior distribution applied over multiple meta-level hierarchy of program and output data of a Turing machine. We were motivated to reduce the effect of Solomonoff's assumption that all computable functions/hypothesis of the same length are equally likely, by weighing each program in turn by the algorithmic probability of their description number encoding. In the limiting case we converge the set of all possible program strings of a fixed-length to a distribution of self-replicating quines and quine-relays - having the structure of a constructor. We discuss how experimental algorithmic information theory provides insights towards understanding the fundamental metrics proposed in this work and reflect on the significance of these result in the constructor theory of life.