Sign in

Mathieu Charbonneau

@matcharbonneau.bsky.social
246 followers 210 following 39 posts

Phil of tech/science, cultural/tech evo, distributed cognition, and interdisciplinary integration. Associate professor at UM6P-FGSES. mcharbonneau.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Zach Garfield @zhgarfield.com · 30/04/2026
Conference update emails for #HBES2026 and #CESRabat will be sent soon. In the meantime, updated programs are live on both conference websites: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/hbes2026 airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026 Check them out! @ces2026.bsky.social @hbes2026.bsky.social
33123
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Oops, broken link above. Find it here: mathieucharbonneau.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...
mathieucharbonneau.wordpress.com
000
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Oops, broken link. Find it here: mathieucharbonneau.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...
mathieucharbonneau.wordpress.com
000
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Combinatorial invention should therefore be understood not simply as producing composite traits, but as generating a manifold of interrelated lineages. This framework provides methodological grounds for reconstructing invention processes and refining evolutionary models of technological change.
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Crucially, solving the problem of interfacing stone points and wooden shafts generated new traditions of joints (adhesives, binders, haft types). These interface systems formed technological lineages alongside the composite tool itself.
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
The invention of the hafted tool (~500 kya) serves as a case study. Hafting was not a single recombination event, but a multi-tiered process involving: (1) Functional organization (2) Material implementation (3) Assembly procedures
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Methodologically, the strategy works backward from complex composites by tracking the evolutionary signals of their sub-components—treating modules and interfaces as lineage-forming traits in their own right.
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
I propose three criteria for identifying genuine design sub-problems to detect the evolutionary signals of combinatorial inventions: • Novelty • Necessity • Cultural transmission
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Rather than modeling invention as random “lock-and-key” recombination, I argue that combining technologies requires solving multiple design sub-problems, especially those involving interfaces between components.
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
I develop a framework for understanding combinatorial invention as both (1) a recursive design problem-solving process and (2) a lineage-generating evolutionary process. Invention does not merely produce composites—it generates new technological traditions.
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Combinatorial invention—the emergence of new technologies through combining existing ones—is central to technological evolution, yet its internal mechanics remain under-theorized. Models often treat it as a stochastic recombination process. This paper opens the “black box.”
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
New preprint available about combinatorial invention! Reconstructing Combinatorial Inventions Through Design Problem Analysis osf.io/preprints/ps...
osf.io
OSF
232
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
All proposals should be submitted by email to ces2026@um6p.ma
000
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
ces2026 @ces2026.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Post 13/13 📩 All activities proposals, video submissions, and further questions should be sent to CES2026@um6p.ma
001
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
ces2026 @ces2026.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Post 1/13 📢🧵 Call for activities proposals ! You are invited to submit proposals for three activities to be held during the upcoming CES2026 conference:
2119
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Due to the the high volume of submissions received, abstract decision notifications for the upcoming Cultural Evolution Society 2026 Conference in Rabat are slightly delayed. Expect to see it in your inbox in ~ 1 week, and fingers crossed you got your presentation of choice!
0164
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
The deadline has been extended - there is still time to get your abstracts in to join us in Morocco!
01917
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Zach Garfield @zhgarfield.com · 15/11/2025
The submission deadline for #CESRabat has been extended to 30 November @ces2026.bsky.social @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
1126
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
ces2026 @ces2026.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
👉 A reminder that the deadline for submitting your abstract to the CES 2026 #CESRabat is the 16th of November. 🔗Submit here: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026 We look forward to seeing you in Rabat!
254
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
👉 A reminder that the deadline for submitting your abstract to the CES 2026 #CESRabat is the 16th of November. 🔗Submit here: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026 We look forward to seeing you in Rabat!
aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
Cultural Evolution Society 2026 Conference | Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique - FGSES
0138
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Looks great! ToC here: mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/conten...
mitp-content-server.mit.edu
000
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Adrian Currie @adrian-currie.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Book launch for “Methods in the Philosophy of Science: a user’s guide”. Ftf in Exeter and online on the 29th of Sept feat Sophie Veigl, Kerry McKenzie, Hasok Chang, and me. It should be fun! (the book will be open access in July, contact me in the meantime) www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai... #philsci
610435
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
ces2026 @ces2026.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
We’re delighted to share that the CES2026 Conference website is now live! We warmly invite researchers, scholars, and practitioners to submit their presentation proposals by November 16th through the submission portal on the website.
11110
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Find out more on the new conference website: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026
airess.fgses-um6p.ma
Cultural Evolution Society 2026 Conference | Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique - FGSES
082
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Presentation submissions are open until November 16, with four submission formats: standard talks (15-20 minutes), lightning talks (5 minutes), poster presentations, and thematic sessions.
082
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
The count down starts for #CESRabat! Follow @ces2026.bsky.social and join us May 11-13 next year for an exciting meeting in Rabat, Morocco. Massive thanks to the #CESRabat organising committee: Sarah Alami (co-chair) Mathieu Charbonneau (co-chair) Zachary Garfield Edmond Seabright
26145
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
We are delighted to announce that the CES2026 conference website is now live! We invite you to submit your presentation proposals using the link on the webpage, deadline November 16th: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026
airess.fgses-um6p.ma
Cultural Evolution Society 2026 Conference | Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique - FGSES
03315
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
James Winters @replicatedtypo.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
🚨🚨 New preprint 📜 with Mathieu Charbonneau (@matcharbonneau.bsky.social‬): Modelling the emergence of open-ended technological evolution (arxiv.org/abs/2508.04828). Feedback welcomed! #Evolution #Technology #Culture #OpenEnded #TechnologicalEvolution #CulturalEvolution 🧵: 1/29
arxiv.org
Modelling the emergence of open-ended technological evolution
Humans stand alone in terms of their potential to collectively and cumulatively improve technologies in an open-ended manner. This open-endedness provides societies with the ability to continually exp...
12510
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
8/8 This contributes to understanding human technological uniqueness *by identifying a mechanism and explaining the dynamics* that enable open-ended cultural evolution, how we escape the optimization traps that constrain other species and achieve truly unbounded technological development.
020
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
7/8 This process differs from cumulative optimization because it involves expanding the range of problems that can be solved (evolvability) rather than optimizing solutions to existing problems (adaptation). It's about accessing new problems, not just solving old ones better.
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
6/8 I propose a model for how cultural evolution of increasingly sophisticated cognitive technologies enables access to previously unreachable invention problems, driving open-ended technological change.
120
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
5/8 These inventions include further empowering cognitive technologies, creating a feedback loop. Inventors become increasingly capable of making themselves even more capable inventors. We literally make ourselves smarter at making ourselves smarter.
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
4/8 By inventing technologies that enhance cognition, we become able to invent technologies that would have been impossible using only our core (non-cultural) cognitive abilities. Writing, math, measuring tools—these expand what our minds can accomplish.
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
3/8 My argument: human open-ended technological evolution emerges from cultural evolutionary bootstrapping of our inventive capabilities through cognitive technologies. We invent technologies that enhance our cognitive capabilities.
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
2/8 A puzzle (2): Yet humans are capable of open-ended or evolvable technological change: we generate novel and useful technological solutions for an ever-expanding set of increasingly complex problems. But how are novel problems of increasing complexity accessed?
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
1/8 🧵 A puzzle (1): While cumulative improvement explains how specific technological traditions get increasingly better at solving pre-existing problems, it's fundamentally an optimization process, one which halts when an optimal solution is found (optimization trap).
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
New paper out in Topics in Cognitive Science! "Open-Ended Technological Evolution: The Co-Evolution of Invention and Cognitive Technologies" 🧵 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Open‐Ended Technological Evolution: The Co‐Evolution of Invention and Cognitive Technologies
Open-ended technological evolution is the result of the co-evolution of invention and cognitive technologies that enhances our cognitive capabilities and generates a feedback loop of ever-expanding t....
12113
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Shumon T. Hussain @shumon.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
There is a job opening (Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2 years, 100%) in my new VW project on the macro-evolution of Pleistocene technological ecosystems in Europe: ecolithic.uni-koeln.de/opportunitie... Deadline 25.05.2025 Please distribute widely! 🏺🦣
02426
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Zach Garfield @zhgarfield.com · 11/04/2025
With @sheinalew.bsky.social: Teaching is associated with the transmission of opaque culture and leadership across 23 egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies, in @naturecomms.bsky.social #evolution #culture 🧪 #LeadSciSky #CultEvo www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Quote: " In sum, leader-directed teaching of opaque cooperative norms would be a mutually beneficial strategy, where the costs incurred by influential teachers are, at least partly, outweighed by the long-term benefits of cultivating cooperation within the group."Mosaic plot illustrating the relationship between evidence for teaching and non-teaching social learning, based on a binary researcher-coded measure of teaching. 

"Although instrumental cultural transmission frequently occurs through both teaching and non-teaching social learning, opaque cultural information is predominantly transmitted through teaching, with relatively fewer instances of non-teaching social learning."
14618
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Alex Mesoudi @alexmesoudi.com · 15/11/2024
Announcement! The next @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social CES conference will be at UM6P in Rabat, Morocco, provisional dates 11-13th May 2026! Hosted by Mathieu Charbonneau, @sarahalami.bsky.social, @zhgarfield.com & @edseabright.bsky.social. Save the dates! culturalevolutionsociety.org/news-and-eve...
culturalevolutionsociety.org
Cultural Evolution Society 2026 Conference Announced - Cultural Evolution Society
88456
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Looking forward to it!
000
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
I see why you say 'smarter', but they seem to say, then: 'smarter = better inheritance system' no? So its not 'smarter' in terms of *producing* new variation (vs. intelligent invention), but rather in terms of being capable of *learning/transmitting* more various information, no?
020
Reposted by Mathieu Charbonneau
Emma Suvi McEwen @emmasmcewen.bsky.social · 29/02/2024
Very pleased to announce that the first study from my PhD thesis is out now 🥳 with thanks to @ConstableMerryn and all my other wonderful co-authors! Chimpanzees exhibit a behavioural signature of human social coordination: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
12012
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 19/01/2024
I hope the volume will be at least as nourishing to read as it was to make. Stay tuned. 3/3
000
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 19/01/2024
I will be making detailed threads about what it’s all about later on; but for now, what matters most is for you to know that the authors, through their original and important contributions, have brought a breath of fresh air, individually and collectively, to the study of technical change. 2/3
110
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 19/01/2024
I am very excited to share with you the news that our book ‘The Evolution of Techniques: Rigidity and Flexibility in Use, Transmission, and Innovation’ is coming out in exactly 2 months. mitpress.mit.edu/978026254780... 1/3
1287
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 19/01/2024
I will be making detailed threads about what it’s all about later on; but for now, what matters most is for you to know that the authors, through their original and important contributions, have brought a breath of fresh air, individually and collectively, to the study of technical change.
000
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 09/01/2024
With Arianna Curioni @lukemcellin.bsky.social @jwastrachan.bsky.social
000
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 09/01/2024
Specifically, CL can draw more on JA lit for studying the micro-dynamics of learning interactions, while JA can draw on CL to study how learning interactions can evolve over time and how these affect later skill expression and know-how. 10/10
100
Mathieu Charbonneau @matcharbonneau.bsky.social · 09/01/2024
We bring the fields of cultural learning (CL) and joint action (JA) research together and suggest further ways of synergizing these fields. 9/10
100